search
Rabbi-curious?

Ultra-Orthodox MK cheered for (mistakenly) joining LGBTQ rights meet

Shas’s Yosef Taieb slips out shortly after Knesset LGBTQ lobby members applaud him, thinking he’d joined discussion intentionally; he apparently expected a Higher Education meeting

Stuart Winer is a breaking news editor at The Times of Israel.

MK Yosef Taieb, chair of the Knesset Education, Culture, and Sports Committee leads a meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on January 25, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
MK Yosef Taieb, chair of the Knesset Education, Culture, and Sports Committee leads a meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on January 25, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

An ultra-Orthodox lawmaker brought unexpected, brief and misguided joy to a Knesset meeting on LGBTQ rights Tuesday when he wandered into the discussion by accident and took a seat at the table.

Participants at the meeting of the Knesset LGBTQ rights lobby greeted MK Yosef Taieb of the Shas party with heartfelt gratitude and applause at what appeared to be a momentous sea change in the lawmaker’s attitudes.

The Shas party, and the ultra-Orthodox community in general, shuns the LGBTQ community and opposes granting rights that take its needs into consideration.

“We are honored with the presence of Chairman of the Knesset Education Committee, Yossi Taieb. Yossi, thank you for being with us,” said a visibly moved MK Yorai Lahav-Hertzano, who chairs the lobby.

“Thank you, Yossi,” chimed in Labor MK Naama Lazimi, as the participants applauded him.

Taieb politely declined Lahav-Hertzano’s offer to deliver a few words. A short time later he slipped out of the room, after an aide was spotted whispering in his ear.

The meeting was part of a slate of special discussions at a number of committees dedicated to LGBTQ rights to mark Pride Month.

According to media reports, Taieb had been looking for a meeting of the Higher Education lobby.

Taieb heads the Knesset Education Committee, which that day was discussing LGBTQ issues, specifically protections for LGBTQ children in school. However, he did not attend that meeting either.

Coalition lawmakers, including openly gay Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, largely shunned the happenings.

read more:
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: [email protected]
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.