Rabbi David Gavrieli Questions Voter Apathy, Urges Participation
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Rabbi David Gavrieli, Rosh Yeshiva of Neve Dekalim, criticized voter apathy, calling participation a civic duty and partnership in Israel's future. He stated he cannot understand why people don't vote, emphasizing that every vote matters and influences national issues like justice, education, and security. He believes citizens are partners in the country's fate and should actively shape its direction.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Rabbi David Gavrieli criticizes voter apathy, urging participation in elections.
- He finds it incomprehensible when people choose not to vote.
- Gavrieli states that individual votes are meaningful and influence national direction.
- He questions non-voters' indifference to key issues like justice and security.
- The Rabbi emphasizes that citizens are partners in the country's fate.
Rabbi David Gavrieli, Rosh Yeshiva of Neve Dekalim, has expressed strong criticism of voter apathy, urging Israelis to view voting as an expression of partnership and responsibility for the nation's destiny. He stated that he finds it difficult to comprehend individuals who choose not to exercise their right to vote in Knesset elections. "When someone tells me they are not going to vote, I simply cannot understand, I really cannot understand," he said.
Rabbi Gavrieli dismissed the notion that individual votes are meaningless, arguing that such a perspective represents a detachment from public responsibility. He emphasized that citizens are integral to the decision-making process and have the power to influence the country's direction. "What do you mean? You are a part, you are a partner, and you can decide. Decide how you want to decide, but be a partner," he urged.
He questioned the indifference of non-voters towards critical national issues, including the justice system, education, Jewish identity, security, and settlement in the Land of Israel. The Rabbi stressed that personal well-being is insufficient, asserting that individuals are intrinsically linked to the nation's fate. "It doesn't work like that, you are part of what is happening, you are a partner in what is happening and you want to influence. The way the country looks will affect everything, including your Torah, how it will look, how much satisfaction you will have, how much heroism and how much strength there will be."
