Background
Avraham (Avi) Wortzman was born in Beersheba.
Avraham (Avi) Wortzman was born in Beersheba.
He studied at the Bnei Akiva-affiliated Ohel Shlomo yeshiva in Beersheba and the Mercaz HaRav Kook yeshiva in Jerusalem.
He also served as Deputy Minister of Education between 2013 and 2014. During his national service in the Israel Defense Forces he served in the Givati Brigade, and was also based at the Hesder Yeshivat Or Etzion. After his army service he returned to Beersheba and founded the Beit Moria Garin Torani in 1993, which worked in the education sector.
In 2008 Wortzman headed the United Religious List in the municipal elections in Beersheba, with the party winning three seats.
He served as the deputy mayor of the city and was responsible for community and welfare. In 2008 he was a candidate for the leadership of the new Jewish Home party, but was defeated by Daniel Hershkowitz.
Although he returned to the Knesset on 3 December 2015 as a replacement for Yinon Magal, who resigned because of sexual harassment allegations against him, he lost his seat three days later after deciding to remain in his job at Aleh Negev, a choise that causes Bennett to resign as minister, which automatically caused him to return to the Knesset due to a recent law amendment and put Wortzan back to the top of the candidate list.
Prior to the 2013 Knesset elections he was asked by Naftali Bennett to run for the Knesset, and was placed eighth on the Jewish Home list. He was placed tenth on the Jewish Home list for the 2015 elections, but lost his seat as the party was reduced to eight seats.
