Haim Amsalem

Haim Amsalem
Date of birth	12 October 1959 (1959-10-12) (age 52)
Place of birth	Oran, Algeria
Year of aliyah	1970
Knessets	17, 18
Party	Whole Nation (2011-)
Former parties	Shas (2006-2010)

Rabbi Emil Haim Amsalem (Hebrew: חיים אמסלם‎, born 12 October 1959) is an Israeli politician and member of the Knesset. A former member of Shas, in 2011 he established the Whole Nation party.

Biography

Born in Oran in Algeria, Amsalem made aliyah to Israel in 1970. He underwent a rabbinical ordination, and qualified to serve as rabbi of a municipality.^[1] He was first elected to the Knesset in 2006, and retained his seat in the 2009 elections, having been placed tenth on the Shas list.

In November 2010 he was expelled from the party after criticising strictures against conversion, rising unemployment and national service evasion among yeshiva students as well as a lack of secular educational opportunities for children, but refused to give up his Knesset seat.^[2] The Jerusalem Post's Jonah Mandel describes the root of the break:

Key to Amsalem’s approach, and perhaps what is most problematic to his party’s line, is his call on those who aren’t destined to be great Torah scholars and who have families to work, and not live on “shameful” allotments.^[3]

Five months later, he formed the Whole Nation party, and announced plans to run for the 19th Knesset.^[4]

Amsalem is married, has eight children and lives in Jerusalem.

References

1. ^ Chaim Amsellem: Particulars Knesset website
2. ^ Ousted Shas MK refuses to give up Knesset seat Haaretz, 24 November 2010
3. ^ Amsalem defies Ovadia Yosef’s order to quit Knesset Jerusalem Post, Jonah Mandel, 24 November 2010
4. ^ Shas rebel MK founds new movement 14 April 2011

External links

• Haim Amsalem Knesset website

Persondata
Name	Amsalem, Emil
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	12 October 1959
Place of birth	Oran, Algeria
Date of death
Place of death