A group of litvish avreichim met on Tuesday night with the Lelover Rebbe in Beit Shemesh in an effort to explain the position of Degel Hatorah, which at present, refuses to join the Beit Shemesh coalition headed by Mayor Aliza Bloch.

The rebbe is the rav of Shimon Goldberg of Shlomei Emunim, who has received instructions to enter the coalition.

According to a Kikar Shabbos News report, the avreichim spoke with the rebbe for an hour, reviewing the details of the agreement which Mayor Bloch signed with the Bayit Yehudi party, explaining this agreement is the reason both Degel and Shas refuse to enter the coalition. The rebbe reportedly told them that he received a report from Goldberg which was the opposite of what they told him and in the coming days, he will probe the matter in depth.

It is also reported that Goldberg appeared during the meeting and an argument resulted as he insists, he was promised the religious status quo will be observed in this administration while Degel Hatorah seems to indicate this is not so.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)