MK Chaim Amsallem (Shas), who has announced his intention to establish a new political party, explained in an interview with the Knesset channel why he plans to leave Shas. Amsallem accused Shas of betraying Sephardi tradition by encouraging a lifestyle in which men do not work for pay, and thus become poor.
Sephardi Jews always worked for a living in addition to learning Torah, he said. Shas is elected by poor families, but instead of breaking the cycle of poverty, offers a few more government benefits or an additional stipend to make the lifestyle somewhat more tolerable – thus allowing poverty to continue, Amsallem accused.
Sephardi Jews always worked for a living in addition to learning Torah, he said. Shas is elected by poor families, but instead of breaking the cycle of poverty, offers a few more government benefits or an additional stipend to make the lifestyle somewhat more tolerable – thus allowing poverty to continue, Amsallem accused.