Columnist Urges Israelis to Vote, Citing Divine Mandate
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Columnist Yedidya Meir implores Israelis to vote in upcoming elections, countering common excuses for abstention. He highlights the religious obligation to participate and argues that individual votes are crucial for national direction, especially in challenging the perceived overreach of the Attorney General. Meir encourages readers to actively persuade undecided voters, likening the act of voting to taking responsibility in critical situations.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Columnist Yedidya Meir urges Israelis to vote, emphasizing it's a religious and civic duty.
- He categorizes non-voters and provides counterarguments to their excuses for abstention.
- Meir stresses that every single vote is significant and can influence election outcomes.
- He criticizes the Attorney General's actions and frames voting as a way to challenge her power.
- The columnist encourages readers to actively persuade others to cast their ballots.
Columnist Yedidya Meir, attending the wedding of Yonatan Razel's daughter, was approached by a woman expressing disillusionment with politics and uncertainty about voting. Meir, delayed by the celebration which included Razel singing after recovering from a stroke and his granddaughter's wedding despite a severe childhood injury, promised to address her question in his column.
Meir argues that in the digital age, influencing elections is easier than ever, suggesting readers create personal WhatsApp groups to encourage undecided or misinformed individuals to vote. He dismisses the common excuse of "I am too small to make a difference," emphasizing that every vote is crucial.
He categorizes potential non-voters into several types: the "innocent" who are unaware of the election, the "unique" who claim no suitable candidate exists, the "desperate" who believe the Attorney General dictates outcomes, and the "modest" who feel their single vote is insignificant. For each, Meir provides counterarguments, stressing the religious and civic duty to vote, citing rabbinic authorities who deemed it a significant mitzvah, even if choosing the "least bad" option.
Addressing the "desperate" voter who feels the Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, holds too much power, Meir acknowledges the frustration but insists that voting is precisely the way to challenge her influence and participate in shaping the country's direction. He criticizes her recent legal interventions, such as the cancellation of the "Torato Umanuto" arrangement and the delay of construction in E1, framing them as detrimental to national interests and the land of Israel.
Meir concludes by urging readers to contact these different types of potential non-voters, encouraging them to vote and to vote "correctly." He draws a parallel to a recent plane incident where passengers took control to avert disaster, suggesting that individuals must take responsibility and act within their capacity, trusting that divine intervention will follow. He emphasizes that even a small action, like casting a vote, can have significant consequences.
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