And winner for the third place is ... • Who are you Yaakov Asher?

A few hours before the Council of Torah Sages of Degel HaTorah convened to approve the third party candidate of Degel Hatorah for the Knesset, the seventh candidate of the list of Yahadut Htaorah, Yaakov Asher's cell phone rang.

"The Rosh Yeshiva decided that you're a candidate for the Knesset," said one of the vertices at the home at 5 Chazon Ish Street.

Although it is true that this place is unrealistic, yet there is no doubt that it is a very happy message for every public functionary. Just before the Moetzet, gives the official seal of approval to the appointment, a few words about the man.

"Degel HaTorah today pulled the bulldozer of the party," says one of his associates. Indeed, there is no doubt that this person deserves the honor.

47 year old Yaakov Asher began his political career 20 years ago, at the Municipality of Bnei Brak, as Eliyahu Suissa's assistant, deputy mayor, and then as the office manager of Rabbi Yerachmiel Boyer, the mayor. When the city appointed a committee, which operated in the municipality for two years and a half, he played the role of an assistant director, then director of the education department of the municipality.

With the election of the mayor Mordechai Karelitz, he was appointed manager of his office and was central to all municipal affairs. In between he managed to squeeze in as mayoral candidate in Elad, but lost to Zuriel Krispel, who was elected the first mayor of the new Orthodox city. After the loss, he entered the local coalition and was deputy mayor, voluntarily and without pay, while continuing to work alongside Karelitz.

In the next term he was elected as Vice Mayor of Bnei Brak, and was appointed head of the engineering department, under Yissachar Frenkenthal.

Has cut the coupon

The man, who managed to get into the political elite of Degel HaTorah this evening, was born in the neighboring town - Ramat Gan. He took office as mayor of Bnei Brak in 2008, with no elections held in the city, as he was the only candidate for mayor. He replaced the previous mayor, Yissachar Frenkenthal, by virtue of the Degel HaTorah agreement with Agudath Yisrael, which appoints mayors from each of the parties alternately.

Since then he sat on the throne of Mayor of Bnei Brak and reaps praise from all sectors and communities. Asher took over the city with huge debts of hundreds of millions of shekels, a city where strikes were recorded every day, and there was no bank which agreed to give her credit.

During the four years of his tenure he managed to turn Bnei Brak, the city which was mentioned once as a notorious city for poor, dirty and crowded – into a business city where huge towers are being built, with the largest deficit minus turning into a plus.

Tower after tower was built, dedicated and populated. The result: tens of millions of revenue fill the municipal fund, no more strikes, payroll flows on time and when financing or bank loan is necessary - all banks require that the municipality will make the auction with her bondage body.

After decades of scorn from government offices he managed to bring to the city of Bnei Brak huge amounts of money from government agencies such as Industry and Tourism. Additionally, he managed to carry out the revolution of the infrastructure cost of 200 million shekels.

Later he established the foundation for the development of the city, which he also managed to raise millions for. In between, he is a member of Board of Directors of large bodies like the National Lottery, Ariel Sharon Park and shuttle train in Tel Aviv.

Yaakov Asher is known for being a close friend of many of the ministers, heads of major cities and economic leaders.

About a month ago, in a meeting with Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, he said, "Rabbi Asher, you are the man for the position of General Director of Ministry of Finance for me." Maybe he does not have the required degrees for such a position, but the talent is definitely there.

But Degel, of course, is not always satisfied with talent, you also need to be connected and linked. For years he made himself a trustee of the house on Chazon Ish Street and a confidant of Hagray"l Steinman. Sometimes he even joined him in his travels to other countries, or was sent on his behalf on one or another activity in Israel or abroad.

Tonight, he has cut the coupon and paid for all his activities. From now on he will have to pray for the success of the list of Yahadut Hatorah at the Knesset to rake seven seats, at least.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!