(ANSA) – TEL AVIV, 03 AUG – In the run-up to the parliamentary elections in November, the weight of Orthodox Jews is growing, who in the outgoing Knesset had a total of 16 of the 120 deputies. Both the centrist Prime Minister Yair Lapid and the leader of the nationalist opposition Benyamin Netanyahu had a confirmation today when expressions of disapproval multiplied in the social networks of the Orthodox both towards Lapid – for his plan to take a short family vacation – and towards Netanyahu, for a haircut.
At the origin of the protests there is the recurrence of the 9th of the month of Av (a solemn day of mourning, in memory of the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem), which occurs this year on August 9th.
On learning that Lapid was leaving on vacation, the leader of the Orthodox Shas party, Aryeh Deri, scolded him severely for not yet visiting the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and asked him controversially if he also wanted to ignore the fast on the 9th of Av. Lapid has changed his plans, and will return from vacation on Saturday evening, before the fast begins.
Netanyahu is also in trouble, after the spread of his haircut on the web. According to tradition, he was reminded, observant Jews do not cut their hair in the days preceding that fast. The barber’s photo was immediately removed from the web. From Netanyahu’s office it was then specified that, however, there are different traditions among Jews regarding the prohibition of haircuts. (HANDLE).
Source: Ansa
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