After attorney Yoav Lalum joined Am Shalem, Rabbi Chaim Amsellem’s party, heading its chareidi faction, HaGaon Harav Yaakov Chai Yosef announced that he no longer supports Lalum and the latter no longer has any right to speak in his name.

In a letter released to the public, R’ Yaakov Yosef expresses his disapproval of Lalum’s decision and his doing so without first consulting with him.

In his response, Lalum stated that his political decisions are his and his alone, and of course the rabbonim with whom he consulted. He confirms that in this case, he did not confer with R’ Yaakov.

He explains that after he was convinced that Am Shalem will truly work to eliminate the discrimination against girls in frum schools he realized this is the party for him.

There was an article in Haaretz about two weeks ago reporting that Lalum tried to obtain similar guarantees from Shas regarding an unyielding battle against discrimination against Sephardi girls and when he did not receive it, he moved to Rav Amsellem.

Lalum has since launched a pro-Amsellem Facebook page for chareidim.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)