Rabbi Aviner Denies Claim He Barred Votes for Party with Non-Jewish Candidate
Rabbi Shlomo Aviner has issued a detailed clarification denying reports that he called for voters not to support Ofer Vinter's "Amcha Israel" party due to the inclusion of a non-Jewish candidate on its list. "I did not say such a thing," Rabbi Aviner stated in response to a question on the matter, adding, "Indeed, one should not trust the media without verification."
Rabbi Aviner clarified that his actual statement was that a non-Jew cannot be appointed to any public leadership position, not specifically a Knesset member, citing Maimonides. He emphasized that Israel is a Jewish state and leadership roles should be held by Jews.
Addressing the question of whether it is permissible to vote for a party with a non-Jewish Knesset member, Rabbi Aviner explained that one must consider the party's overall platform. He likened parties to individuals, who are judged by the majority of their actions, stating, "There is no party in the land that does good and does not sin." He advised voters to choose the party with the most merits.
He further noted other potential limitations within party lists, such as the exclusion of women from leadership roles according to Rabbi Kook's stance, or the exclusion of those who do not observe Torah and commandments. Given these imperfections in most parties, he concluded that one should vote for the party that best aligns with the ideal of the nation's revival in its land according to its Torah, and that each person must vote for the party they believe is best for the state.
Regarding the obligation to follow rabbinical advice on political matters, Rabbi Aviner stated that while consulting with Torah scholars is appropriate, the final decision rests with the individual. He acknowledged that rabbis possess deep understanding of national and state affairs, but ultimately, each person must vote based on their own assessment of what is best for the country, acting as a "small judge" who should not disregard their own opinion.
