"Reform and Conservative Threats Loom Over Herzliya, Unnoticed by Residents"

A fierce and intense struggle has been underway for the past few months in the city of Herzliya, a battle against the incursion of Conservative and Reform movements as well as against assimilation. Behind this struggle stands proudly Elad Tzadikov, a diligent council member from the Degel HaTorah party.

It's hard to believe that Tzadikov, filled with ambition and a deep belief in the righteousness of his path and the values he fights for, was completely distant from anything related to Judaism just about a decade ago.

How then did he reach his current position? As we speak with him about this, he shares a fascinating story: "My childhood was excellent; I lacked nothing," he begins, "After enlisting, I served in a prestigious role—I was an officer in Shayetet 13. I completed my bachelor's degree with honors at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya and immediately dove into the professional career world. I worked in the fashion industry and achieved great success. I lived in Herzliya Pituach by the seashore, earned a lot of money, and everything was good and wonderful."

However, it turns out that all this glamour was only on the surface. Tzadikov notes that ever since his military service, he felt something was missing. "The more I saw the world, the more questions and doubts arose within me—Who created all these things? To whom does the world belong? I understood that the answers to my questions were deeper than the superficial level I was accustomed to, but I still lacked something in the whole picture."

Tzadikov continued his life, vigorously developing his fashion industry career, but he constantly felt a sense of discomfort. "This feeling struck me repeatedly, especially when I was required to sponsor sports brands in shows held on Shabbat. I felt I couldn't do it in any way, but I couldn't explain to myself why. At the same time, I also participated in seminars and began listening to Jewish studies. Despite this, I was still entirely secular. The truth is I felt fake and frustrated."

The Moment I Decided to Observe Shabbat

Feeling distressed, Tzadikov decided to travel around the world to release some of the pressure that gripped him. "I traveled to several countries and eventually arrived in Lima, Peru. I lived there with a friend, and one day I prepared a meat dish and saw my good friend taking a dairy sauce and intending to mix it with the food. I stopped him in panic and said: 'We are Jews. How can you mix meat with milk?' He heard me and burst out laughing—'You're an intelligent person who served in Shayetet! What's this nonsense about meat and milk?' This led me to further thoughts, and it was precisely there in distant Peru that my contemplations resurfaced."

Shortly afterward, Tzadikov was at a Chabad House in India. It was a Friday, and he was celebrating his 29th birthday. In a bout of spirituality, he convinced himself: "Give yourself a unique gift and start keeping Shabbat," and thus the decision was made. "Shortly before candle lighting, I called my mother to tell her about it," he recounts, "but instead of being surprised that her son was starting to observe Shabbat, she began to cry and explained that on that very day, she had decided to be strict about covering her head. At that moment, I realized I was no longer alone; I had a partner, and it was such joyous news."

Tzadikov returned to Israel, and since then, things have unfolded quickly. "I married my wife, who also returned to religious observance, from the Sharon area, coming from a similar background as mine. We went through the strengthening process together. It didn't happen overnight; it was a slow advancement over several years, with deep contemplation and thought. Today, thank *Hashem*, we are deeply committed to the world of religious observance, raising four children who study in the religious institutions in Herzliya and derive much satisfaction from them."

Despite the great light and immense satisfaction Tzadikov feels in his life, he testifies that the whole process was far from easy. "I was a social guy who maintained connections with many people around, and suddenly everyone began looking at me like an odd bird, as if something was wrong with me. I remember even now the trauma I experienced when I arrived for my first reserve duty as a newly observant person with a kippah and beard. Suddenly everyone fell silent and made me feel as if I had lost my sanity. I had to fight for my place, if only to prove to my friends that I was sane."

Never Stops Protesting

But an even tougher battlefield revealed itself when he entered the Herzliya City Council about four years ago. "I entered there essentially to represent the religious public in the city, but I didn't imagine the challenge would be so big and heavy. Because the work in this field never ends," Tzadikov points out.

In recent weeks, your name comes up as someone initiating struggles and uproars...

"Yes, that's true," he agrees, "These days we are at the heart of a difficult struggle. For Herzliya is fertile ground for wild growths of Reform and Conservative practices. I'm very disappointed with the mayor because, in fact, the Sephardic and traditional public elected him, and it was they who promoted him, but now he directly causes the breach of the status quo."

What do you mean?

"Herzliya began in the past year to be the first city in Israel to authorize public transportation on Shabbat. Additionally, the municipality funds Reform and Conservative activities in Herzliya's high schools every year, and every Shabbat it advertises 'Musical Kabbalat Shabbat,' which constitutes a severe disruption of Judaism because it involves Shabbat services conducted by Reform and Conservative streams, with music and clear desecration of Shabbat."

And Tzadikov continues to speak with pain: "There are also various events in the city that lead me to protest, such as a case where the principal of one of the public schools decided to move the Chumash ceremony from an Orthodox synagogue to a Conservative one. What is shocking here is that the city's education department actually encouraged this. But the most terrible thing, in my opinion, was a few months ago when it became clear that a city-sponsored charity organization raised funds to help needy families. But since the organization wanted to save money, it bought meat from a slaughterhouse in Tira, where they were told it was 'kosher without certification.' For eight months, they distributed non-kosher meat to the needy in Herzliya, without any kosher supervision or veterinary oversight."

Wait, and did you try to do something about all these things?

"Of course. For several months now, I have been protesting all these severe injustices. But as a result of my protest, some made sure to exclude me from the city coalition. So as of today, I remain a council member but outside the coalition."

Tzadikov notes that it greatly bothers him, but he is confident that his activities will not cease. "On the contrary, there are things you can advocate for more vigorously precisely when you are outside the coalition. I do not for a moment consider stopping my activities."

And are you optimistic?

He reflects for a moment, then responds: "Yes, I am optimistic. It's important to understand that Herzliya, despite the stigma attached to it, is not 'a symbol of secularism.' In the city's center and east, there are neighborhoods, mostly traditional, with a growing religious community. A religious revolution is indeed happening here. In Herzliya Pituach, a yeshiva has even been established under the leadership of Rabbi Meir Shmueli. The head of the yeshiva once beautifully remarked to me: 'If we take the name 'Herzliya,' we see there's 'har' (mountain) on one side, 'tzel' (shadow) on the other, and Hashem's name in the end. Our mission is to remove the mountain and the shadow, leaving only Hashem's name.'"

From the Herzliya Mayor's Office, a response was given to 'Hidabroot': "Mr. Tzadikov, you must decide. 'Democracy' is not a cloak to wear only when convenient; you cannot hold the stick at both ends: on one hand, to spread vile, dark, and racist words that oppose every value of equality, tolerance, and recognition of human rights, whoever they may be, and on the other hand, to cling to the high banner of democracy and the right to freedom of expression and speech. In the council meeting, the Mayor of Herzliya explicitly explained that there is no place in the coalition for partnership with someone who attacks, lies, defames, and slanders the mayor and the entire city administration. Democracy is a collection of values that must be embraced—equal rights, freedom of speech, individual liberty, and tolerance—and based on these values, Herzliya City Council will continue to operate and act."