Prominent Rabbi Reveals Vote for Small Religious Party

Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, president of the Ateret Yerushalayim yeshiva, announced his intention to vote for the Noam party in the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. In an opinion piece published in "Olam Katan," Rabbi Aviner explained that his choice stems from the priorities he wishes to emphasize in public discourse.

While not dismissing other parties, Rabbi Aviner stated that for him, spiritual matters are paramount. He described how all parties address the "body of the nation", economy and security, which he acknowledged as important. However, he characterized Noam as representing the "soul of the nation," deeming it "squared" in importance. He drew a parallel between spiritual engagement and the education and resilience of Israeli society, asserting that without this spiritual core, "the main thing is missing from the book, the oxygen is missing," and success in other areas would be impossible.

Rabbi Aviner also addressed the party's potential electoral success, emphasizing that the attempt itself is significant. "I don't know if we will succeed, but I know that if we don't try, we certainly won't succeed," he wrote. He concluded with a call to action, stressing the importance of Jewish identity and unity, stating, "Once and for all: we are not like all the nations! Torah, the Holy One, Blessed be He, and Israel are one."

He further urged, "We hear the voice of God: Arise! Not the voice of the Holy Spirit, but a voice from the soul of the nation: Arise! Add courage!"