Ultra-Orthodox Families in Rome Undertake Complex Travel to Vote in Israeli Elections

Following a directive from Rabbi Dov Landau, a prominent Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox leader, several families residing in Rome, Italy, are making elaborate travel arrangements to vote in upcoming Israeli elections. The plan involves a staggered departure and return for husbands and wives to manage childcare responsibilities.

Men from three families, who are in Rome as part of outreach activities, will travel to Israel on Monday, vote on Tuesday morning, and immediately return to Rome. Their wives will then depart for Israel on Tuesday afternoon, arriving in the afternoon to cast their ballots before flying back to Rome.

This complex itinerary stems from a query sent to Rabbi Landau by the families, who are involved with a kollel and a school for outreach work. They asked whether they were obligated to return to Israel to vote and if both spouses needed to travel, citing the difficulty and expense of arranging childcare.

Rabbi Landau ruled that husbands must vote, but allowed wives to remain in Rome if childcare arrangements were impossible. The families have opted for the split travel plan to ensure both parents can fulfill their voting obligations while managing their children.

One of the individuals described the plan, stating, "All the men go out on Monday and return on Tuesday morning, and then, God willing, the women go out on Tuesday and arrive in the afternoon in Israel, vote, and then take a plane back to Rome." He expressed satisfaction with the arrangement, calling it "a reward for the steps, what merits, blessed are you Israel, thank God."