Rabbi Yaakov Yosef
Photo: Uzi Barak
Rabbi Yaakov Yosef quits Emmanuel school struggle
Rabbi who gave halachic backing to fight against discrimination in religious school says threats led him to halt involvement in struggle
Rabbi Yaakov Yosef, one of the leaders of the struggle against discrimination at the Beit Yaakov religious school in Emmanuel, announced Saturday night that he is halting all activity in the matter after he and his family members came under threat over the issue.
The rabbi said he was willing to take the pressure himself and push forward with the struggle, but once the matter began to affect those around him, he was forced to back down.
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The decision may have significant repercussions, since Rabbi Yosef is the only one to give halachic backing to the struggle's leader, Yoav Lalum, and even went to the High Court of Justice despite a halachic ruling that forbids speaking before legal sessions that do not follow Jewish Law.
Lalum confirmed to Ynet that his rabbi was ending involvement in the struggle, and reiterated his commitment to act according to his instructions.
Haredi elements doubted the rabbi's explanation and linked his decision to comments made by his father, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Saturday night, who spoke out against rabbis appealing to the secular courts.
"You know how I feel about the Supreme Court, beware of this thing, you have seen what they did this week, you have seen their path. We are separate from them, we have the holy Torah," Rabbi Ovadia Yosef said Saturday night.
