JERUSALEM (JTA) — The spiritual leader of the Druse community in Israel will receive an honorary doctorate.
The University of Haifa will award Shaykh Mowafak Tarif with the honorary degree "in recognition of his contribution to strengthening equality and his commitment to the State of Israel." It will be conferred at the beginning of June during the university’s 38th meeting of the Board of Governors.
Tarif was born in the Gaza village of Julis in 1963 and is a descendant of the Tarif family, which has been leading the Druse community in Israel since 1753. He inherited the position of spiritual leader from his late grandfather, Shaykh Amin Tarif, in October 1993. He is responsible for the Druse holy sites.
Tarif is an advocate for compulsory service in the Israel Defense Forces for Druse youths. He has a degree in law and works to secure equal treatment in Israel for his community.
