Yair Cherki
Yair Cherki | |
|---|---|
יאיר שרקי | |
 | |
| Born | February 5, 1993 |
| Education | Yeshivat Makor Chaim |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Parent(s) | Oury Amos Cherki (father) Ronit Cherki (mother) |
Yair Mordechai Cherki (Hebrew: יאיר מרדכי שֶׁרקי, born 5 February 1993) is an Israeli journalist who serves as a reporter and commentator on religious and political affairs programs. He currently hosts a late night current affairs show on Channel 12.[1] He is also a weekly columnist for Makor Rishon newspaper and presents a weekly current affairs program on Israeli Army Radio.
Early life
Cherki was born and raised in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Kiryat Moshe to a National Religious family. He is the fourth of seven children of Rabbi Oury Amos Cherki, a senior lecturer at Machon Meir and rabbi of the Kiryat Moshe community, and Dr. Ronit Sharki, a biology researcher.[2] His brother, Shalom Yochai, was killed in a terror attack in 2015.[3][4] He was educated at Yeshivat Makor Chaim, a High School Yeshiva in Gush Etzion. In 2011, after graduating, he enlisted with the Israel Defense Forces for his conscription period. He served with Israeli Army Radio, where he was the religious affairs correspondent.[5]
Career
In 2014, he began working as a religious affairs correspondent for Channel 2 news.[6] In 2016, he was named by Forbes Israel as one of the top 30 "Most promising young people" in the country. In addition to his TV role, he presented a current affairs morning radio show from January to July 2017 on Galey Israel Radio.[7]
In 2017 he began writing a weekly current affairs column for B'Sheva. He left the newspaper in 2020 to begin writing a new weekly political column for Makor Rishon newspaper.[8]
In 2018, B'nai B'rith World Center awarded him the Journalistic Excellence Award in the Israeli Media for coverage of Diaspora Jewry and Israel-Diaspora Relations, for his series of articles "Brooklyn of the Holy".[9]
In September 2021, he was named as the "most trusted" political commentator in a survey commissioned by the Israeli news website, Walla.[10] He was named as the "most trusted" journalist in September 2022 in a separate survey conducted by Prof. Yitzhak Katz.[11]
In November 2023, following the start of the Israel-Hamas War, he began hosting a Late Night program on Channel 12 with journalist Haim Levinson. After a short time, Avri Gilad replaced Levinson and the name of the program was changed to Avri and Cherki.[12]
In July 2024, he returned to Israeli Army Radio and began hosting a weekly current affairs program every Thursday with Hila Korach.
Impact
He is credited for building greater understanding of Haredi Jews and their lifestyles. In his reporting he takes viewers into the homes of the Haredim, gently asking his hosts to explain their beliefs.[1]
Personal life
In February 2023, he came out as gay.[13] He wrote: "I have always lived with the clash between this sexual preference and faith,", adding that "There are those who solved the conflict by saying there is no God, and there are others who have said there are no gays. In my flesh, I know they both exist and I try to resolve this internal conflict in multiple ways."[13]
He was supported by political figures in Israel across the spectrum, including former Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, Likud's openly-gay Knesset speaker, Amir Ohana and Merav Michaeli, leader of the Israeli Labor Party.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Reporter Yair Cherki wants fellow haredim to understand that he’s gay The Jerusalem Post. 16 February 2023
- ^ Yair Cherki on the year he shattered the glass screen of television Globes. 24 September 2015
- ^ France condemns terrorist attack in Jerusalem that claims life of French citizen – France MoFA statement/Non-UN document United Nations. 15 April 2015
- ^ Cherki laid to rest: "You saved the girl next to you" Ynet. 16 April 2015
- ^ The new face of Israeli Army Radio Kikar. 12 July 2011
- ^ Yair Cherki will cover the field of religion on Channel 2 News Makor Rishon. 24 April 2014
- ^ Yair Cherki in Liebeskind Arutz Sheva. 12 January 2017
- ^ Yair Cherki leaves the newspaper B'Sheva - will start writing for the newspaper Makor Rishon Arutz Sheva. 24 December 2020
- ^ Yair Cherki won an award for his coverage of Diaspora Jewry and Israel relations Walla. 30 April 2018
- ^ Between the campaigns: The Great Journalist Survey. Who is the most trusted political commentator in Israel? Walla. 6 September 2021
- ^ אמינות העיתונאים – הממצאים Journalist Credibility Survey – Findings Press Pectiva
- ^ Keshet 12 in a huge surprise: This is the new program that will be broadcast tonight Ice. 22 November 2023
- ^ a b Yair Cherki is famous for making Israelis understand Haredim. Now he wants Haredim to understand that he’s gay. The Forward. 15 February 2023