Rabbi Who Opposed Elections Now Urges Vote Amid Persecution
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Rabbi A. Salim is visiting rabbis who oppose elections, warning them against violating a biblical commandment. Following this, Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Sofer, who previously opposed elections, issued a rare letter calling for participation due to the "persecution of yeshiva students." This marks a shift for some Haredi leaders from abstention to electoral engagement.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Rabbi A. Salim is urging rabbis who oppose elections to vote, citing religious law.
- Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Sofer issued a rare letter calling for electoral action.
- Rabbi Sofer's letter cites the "persecution of yeshiva students" as the reason for the change.
- The shift indicates a move towards electoral participation within some Haredi circles.
- The context involves ongoing pressures on the Haredi community regarding draft exemptions.
Rabbi A. Salim, a Yeshiva Dean, has begun visiting rabbis who have historically opposed participating in elections, warning them that "he who does not vote violates the commandment 'You shall not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor.'" Following these visits, Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Sofer, another Yeshiva Dean who had previously opposed elections, issued a rare letter in his own handwriting. In the letter, he declared it a "temporary decree to go out and act" due to the "persecution of yeshiva students."
The article implies that the "persecution" refers to the ongoing legal and political pressures faced by the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community, particularly regarding draft exemptions for yeshiva students. Rabbi Salim's initiative and Rabbi Sofer's subsequent letter signal a significant shift in stance for some prominent figures within the Haredi leadership, moving from abstention to active participation in the electoral process.
