Prominent Rabbi Declares Himself Beyond Political Camps
Translated & summarized from Kipa by baba
Rabbi Tamir Granot of Tel Aviv's "Orot Shaul" Yeshiva announced on election day that he does not belong to any political camp, finding elements to connect with across the spectrum but also aspects he finds unacceptable in each. He declared he chooses the people of Israel with love, identifying himself as "meta-camp" or "above camp." While he will vote, he urged others to separate their ballot choice from their core identity and accept the election outcome with love.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Tamir Granot declared he belongs to no political camp, finding good and bad in all.
- He cited specific positive attributes of various Israeli political figures and parties.
- Granot stated he cannot fully identify with any single faction due to unacceptable elements.
- He announced a personal decision to "choose the people of Israel in love."
- The rabbi encouraged voters to cast ballots based on conscience and accept the results peacefully.
On election day, Rabbi Tamir Granot, Rosh Yeshiva of "Orot Shaul" in Tel Aviv, posted a reflective message addressing the deep political divisions in Israeli society. He described his personal journey across the political spectrum, ultimately concluding that he does not belong to any single camp.
Rabbi Granot explained that he finds common ground with various factions. He cited feelings of sovereignty and governance associated with Itamar Ben-Gvir, settlement and Torah values with Bezalel Smotrich, the national Zionism of Ze'ev Jabotinsky within the Likud party, and the serious plans of Naftali Bennett. He also noted the freshness of Ofer Winter, responsible economics and early warnings from Avigdor Lieberman, fairness and idealism from Yisrael 'Izzy' Eisenkot, the Torah world of Shas and United Torah Judaism, and even the yearning for peace and freedom of his neighbors in Tel Aviv who vote for "Democrats."
However, the rabbi clarified that he cannot fully identify with any single group. He stated that while he feels a connection to each camp, each also contains elements that he finds irritating, unbearable, immoral, un-Jewish, unrealistic, or contrary to truth or peace. Therefore, he concluded, he does not belong to any camp.
In light of the internal rift, Rabbi Granot announced a principled and unifying decision: "I have decided definitively and absolutely to follow God's path and choose God's choice: 'Who chooses His people Israel in love.' I choose the people of Israel, and I choose to do so with love, to see the good in every camp and the truth in every camp. From now on, call me: meta-camp, above camp, or simply a lover of Israel. The letters of my camp on the ballot are: Aleph to Tav."
He affirmed his intention to vote to influence policy and priorities but urged the public to separate the technical act of voting from their identity. "My ballot is just my practical choice, not my camp. Go to the ballot box, vote according to your conscience, and tomorrow morning, whatever the decision, lift your heads, rejoice that the people of Israel have chosen, and accept the decision with love. The people of Israel are one complete entity."
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