Top Rabbi Slams New Haredi Parties, Urges Vote for United Torah Judaism
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Rabbi Dovid Landau, a prominent Haredi leader, fiercely denounced new political parties targeting the ultra-Orthodox community during a large Jerusalem gathering on Friday night. He urged thousands to vote solely for the United Torah Judaism party, warning the new factions are harmful and based on falsehoods. Landau stressed that all Haredim, whether students or workers, are part of the Torah community and must support the party that uphns religious life.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Dovid Landau urged thousands to vote only for United Torah Judaism (Gimel) at a Jerusalem event.
- He warned new Haredi parties are detrimental to Torah study and cause vote loss.
- Landau criticized parties claiming to represent working Haredim and those falsely promising draft protection.
- He stated that all Haredim, students and workers alike, are part of the Torah community.
- The rabbi declared that supporting these new parties is harmful to Torah and its students.
Rabbi Dovid Landau, a leading Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva (head of a religious seminary), strongly criticized new political parties aiming to represent segments of the Haredi public during a large gathering in Jerusalem. Addressing thousands of attendees on Friday night, Landau urged them to vote exclusively for the United Torah Judaism party, designated as "Gimel" (ג'). He warned that these new factions, which he did not name, are detrimental to Torah study and cause a loss of votes.
Landau identified two types of problematic new parties: those claiming to represent Haredi individuals who work for a living rather than solely studying Torah, and those falsely presenting themselves as zealous defenders of yeshiva students against potential conscription into the IDF. He declared that these parties "contain nothing but lies, lies, and lies." The rabbi emphasized that anyone who believes in the Torah and wishes for their children to grow up in religious observance is part of the "world of Torah," regardless of whether they study or work, and should vote for United Torah Judaism, which he stated safeguards religious life in Israel.
He further asserted that even those with grievances or questions should not abstain from voting, as doing so would desecrate God's name. Landau also cautioned against voting for parties that do not prioritize Torah values or that encourage actions like ascending the Temple Mount, stating such votes would exclude the voter from the community. He called these new parties "outside the camp" and urged people to stay far away from them, warning that supporting them harms Torah and its students.
The event, held at the Bayan Beit Midrash in Jerusalem, was attended by numerous prominent rabbis, including Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, a member of the Council of Torah Sages, and heads of major yeshivas. Landau concluded his address by encouraging attendees to influence others to vote for "Gimel" and to pray for the return of Jewish exiles to Zion.
