The soldier who appears in the photo is angry, telling the media that he refused to be photographed together with Lapid, yet his wishes were ignored.

Yesh Atid leader MK Yair Lapid visited the Kimcha D’pischa operation of Migdal HaEmek Chief Rabbi HaGaon HaTzaddik Yitzchok Dovid Grossman Shlita. Some chareidim are angered over the photo op given to Lapid, whom they view as persona non grata in the chareidi world.

In this case, the soldier told Kikar Shabbos News that he declined to be photographed together with Lapid. The soldier is a rav in a paratroops reserve duty unit and they volunteered to assist Rav Grossman in packing kimcha d’pischa boxes ahead of yomtov. “Suddenly Rav Grossman and Yair Lapid entered” he exclaimed, adding “Rav Grossman brought him to me to shake hands. I shook his hand out of politeness and I would have done the same regarding PM Netanyahu and other officials”.

“I had to shake his hand but it frustrates me that he benefits on my back. I was hurt by Lapid like all chareidim. I am an avreich in kollel and my family suffered from his budgetary cuts during his tenure as Finance Minister. I am far from his hashkafa but even more, there was a meeting and Lapid asked to get a photo with me and I refused. I study Torah and he harmed this chareidi community” the soldier added.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)