Rabbi: Voters Must Decide Election Choices, Not Rely on Religious Authority

Rabbi Natanel Elyashiv asserts that while the Torah provides a value system, the ultimate decision on who to vote for in elections rests with each individual voter. He cautions against two extremes: the idea that the Torah has nothing to say about public life, and the notion that it offers specific guidance for casting a ballot.

Elyashiv emphasizes that the Torah is fundamentally intended for public life and provides a framework of values and national direction. However, he argues that it does not offer singular, definitive answers to complex political, security, or social issues, which involve a wide range of considerations. "You need to weigh many, many data points, and the Torah does not provide any single answer to these questions," he stated.

When consulting a rabbi, Elyashiv clarifies, it is different from seeking a halachic ruling. "It's okay to ask a rabbi if you think you value his opinion, but you need to know that you are not asking him like you would ask him a purely halachic question, but rather how he understands public life," he explained.

The core principle, according to Elyashiv, is that responsibility does not transfer from the voter to the rabbi. "You need to know that in the end, the responsibility is yours. You need to decide. And this is because we live in a democracy," he said. He likens a voter to a judge who must listen to others but ultimately make an independent decision, warning against outsourcing this critical choice.

Elyashiv urges voters to study political realities, understand the candidates and parties, and consult various sources, including rabbis they respect. However, he stresses that the final judgment and decision must be their own. "Listen to what they have to say. But in the end, in reasoning, it should be your independent reasoning. You ultimately need to make the decision and you are responsible for it," he concluded, highlighting the significant impact of each individual vote.