Top Rabbis Urge Voting for United Torah Judaism in Upcoming Elections
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Leading rabbis, including Aviezer Pilz and Aryeh Levin, urged community members in southern Israel to vote for the United Torah Judaism party (Gimmel) in upcoming elections. The rabbis stressed the spiritual significance of the vote, stating it declares God as the true deity and Torah sages as Israel's leaders, not an endorsement of the government. The gathering concluded with prayers for Israel's salvation, with participants including rabbis from various southern cities and candidates from the Degel HaTorah faction.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Top rabbis urged voting for United Torah Judaism (Gimmel) in elections, emphasizing spiritual significance.
- Rabbi Aviezer Pilz stated the vote declares God as the deity and Torah sages as Israel's leaders.
- Participation in elections is seen as a religious obligation, not an endorsement of the current government.
- The gathering included rabbis from southern Israeli cities like Yerucham, Be'er Sheva, and Tifrah.
- The event concluded with prayers for the success of the campaign and Israel's salvation.
Leading rabbis and community leaders from the Negev and southern Israel convened last week at the residence of Rabbi Aviezer Pilz, head of the Tushia Yeshiva in Tifrah and a member of the Council of Torah Sages. The gathering, also led by Rabbi Aryeh Levin, head of the Shachar Sachir Yeshiva and another Council member, emphasized the religious obligation to vote for the United Torah Judaism party, identified by the letter Gimel, and to encourage public support for the list.
Rabbi Pilz spoke about the spiritual significance of voting, stressing the responsibility of community rabbis and kollel heads. He stated that increased votes for "the emissaries of the sages" signify that God is the true deity and that the Jewish people's identity is rooted in the Torah. He referenced the teachings of the late Rabbi A. M. Schach, who emphasized the purpose of participating in elections as a declaration that the leaders of Israel are the Torah Sages, not an endorsement of the current government.
"We are not like other parties; we do not belong to them, nor they to us, and this is the root of success," Rabbi Pilz declared, explaining that participation in elections is a call to action for God's sake, akin to the biblical story of Elijah on Mount Carmel. He urged attendees to remember the foundational principles behind engaging in the electoral process, noting that recognizing the importance of gathering to strengthen God's honor brings divine assistance.
Rabbi Yaakov Friedman, co-head of the Tushia Yeshiva, who was unable to attend, sent his full support for the proceedings. Rabbi Pilz further clarified that the vote's primary purpose is not to expect practical changes in government but to enable the public to live as Jews and affirm the Jewish people's connection to God. He linked this to the concept of trust in God on Rosh Hashanah, asserting that prioritizing God's honor leads to divine aid.
The event concluded with prayers for the success of the campaign and a plea for the salvation of Israel. Attendees included rabbis from Yerucham, Be'er Sheva, and Tifrah, along with candidates and public representatives from Degel HaTorah, a faction within United Torah Judaism, including Moshe Rosenthal, David Zaltz, and former MK Eliyahu Brochi.
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