Haredi Leader's Diary Reveals Contrasting Views on Election Day
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
A diary from the first Israeli Knesset elections in 1949 shows Rabbi Moshe Ye'ekutiel Alpert viewing election day as a holy occasion, voting in his Sabbath best. His writings contrast with some contemporary Haredi stances, as he believed boycotting elections was not halachically permissible. The diary also touches on the progressive 'HaTzibur HaCharedi' list, led by Motty Leitner, which featured women candidates and supported secular studies.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Moshe Ye'ekutiel Alpert viewed the first Knesset elections as a holy day, voting in his Sabbath best.
- Alpert's 1949 diary contrasts with some modern Haredi views on elections and military service.
- The 'HaTzibur HaCharedi' list, led by Motty Leitner, presented a more progressive Haredi platform.
- Female candidates Dr. Nehumi Yaffe and Ziva Glantz spoke about elevating Haredi women's status.
- Leitner supported secular studies in Haredi schools and criticized established Haredi parties.
A diary entry from the first Knesset elections in 1949 reveals a stark contrast in how some Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) leaders viewed election day compared to contemporary attitudes. Rabbi Moshe Ye'ekutiel Alpert, the Mukhtar of the Beit Yisrael neighborhood in Jerusalem, described election day as a "great and holy day," akin to a religious holiday, and went to vote in his Sabbath best with a blessing of "who has kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this time."
Alpert's diary, published in 'Diary of a Mukhtar in Jerusalem,' details his profound excitement at participating in the formation of the nascent Jewish state. He expressed disdain for the slogan "We will die rather than be drafted," adopted by some Haredi parties, and believed that boycotting elections was not halachically permissible. He would have likely supported a list like 'HaTzibur HaCharedi,' led by Motty Leitner, who referred to Israel as "the great miracle named the State of Israel."
Leitner's list also stood out for its unconventional approach, featuring female candidates Dr. Nehumi Yaffe and Ziva Glantz who spoke about elevating the status of Haredi women. Unlike other Haredi parties that often obscure women from public view, their video appearances were shown to a large audience of Haredi men. Leitner, who supports secular studies in Haredi schools, argued that voting for his list was not a wasted vote, unlike votes for established parties which he claimed perpetuate nepotism.
Alpert's detailed account of his voting experience on January 25, 1949, highlights his meticulous adherence to religious customs, including wearing clean clothes and reciting blessings. He arrived early at the polling station, emphasizing the sanctity of the moment, which he felt his ancestors had longed for. His diary, edited by his nephew Professor Pinchas Alpert and Dr. Dotan Goren, provides a unique glimpse into the religious and emotional significance of voting for the first time in a Jewish state.
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