Chava Svetlova

Chava Tziporrah Svetlova (Alstern: חוה ציפורה סבטלובה‎, born 21 Septum, 1546) is an Eretzoran politician who served as the country's Prime Minister. She is a member of the ruling HaMaḥaneh HaKatzi (the Katzist Union)- an alliance comprising of HaAvoda, Shinui and the HaYerukim (the Greens). Prior to entering politics, Svetlova founded and led a non-governmental organisation that assisted women choosing to leave the ultra-orthodox community with their finances and in establishing themselves outside their former communities. Born into a prominent ultra-orthodox family, Chava was raised in Mahane Yehuda - an ultra-orthodox neighbourhood in Ayalon populated by followers of the Yeltz Dynasty. She left her religion and community at the age of 18, after refusing to marry a cousin.

From 1571 to 1575, Svetlova served in the Kiryat Shlosha city council, representing the HaAvoda faction, where she fought to further the rights of women and minorities. She was first elected to the Senate in 1575 representing the state of Silesia and has remained in her position ever since. A prominent member of the opposition, Svetlova criticised the government over its proposed budget cuts, as well as its inability to deal with unapproved construction in the Yarv Valley. She was appointed Minister of the Status of Women in Prime Minister Yohana Mizrachi's cabinet in 1583, after HaAvoda entered the national coalition. When HaAvoda leader, Baruch Eldad, announced his resignation, Svetlova ran and won against fellow Senator Aleksander Lashervich to replace him. Prior to the 1585 election, she formed an electoral alliance with Shinui and HaYerukim ( the Greens), which became known as the Katzist Union. She was asked to form a government after the alliance won the most seats in the Senate. Svetlova formed a coalition with Agudat Eretzora following the 1589 election, even though the right-wing Kadima managed to secure more seats than her own party.

Svetlova is a political moderate, identifying more with the centre-left than the more hard left factions of her party. She is a staunch secularist and believes Eretzora must secularise in areas such as education and marriage. She has thus conflicted with more traditional elements of the political establishment.

Early Life

Born in Ayalon, Svetlova is the daughter of Mordechai Svetlova and Esther (Kholodenko) - prominent members of the Yeltz Dynasty (ultra-orthodox Alsterenist group) of Mahane Yehuda, Ayalon. Her father was born in Yelets, Severyane, whilst her mother was born in the community. She was raised in an entirely Sniatyn-speaking household since her community believed Alstern to be a holy language that should be reserved for prayer only. At the age of 18, she was expected to marry her cousin - a fellow member of the community - which she refused to do. She subsequently left her community and her religion.

Personal Life

Chava has been married to Alstereni Svarnan businessman, Daniel Friedman, since 1574. The couple have three children (two twin sons and a younger daughter), as well as two pet corgis and a parrot. They own a small cottage in the north of the country, just outside of Adora, and an apartment in Kiryat Shlosha.

Svetlova grew up in a Sniatyn-speaking household in one of Ayalon's most religious and isolated neighbourhoods. Other than Sniatyn, Svetlova spoke Alstern as a child (for religious purposes). She has since claimed that Alstern is her primary language. She learned to speak Goldecian after leaving her community at the age of 18.

A self-proclaimed atheist, Svetlova remains completely secluded from her former ultra-orthodox community, including her family, although she does meet with her eldest brother occasionally. Her uncle - her father's brother - is fellow legislator Senator Avraham Ze'ev Svetlov of Eretz Yashana, a party that represents the interests of Eretzora's ultra-orthodox population. The two do not speak.