Bnei Brak Deputy Mayor Calls for Unity After Election

Following the recent elections, Yehoshua (Shiki) Mandel, Deputy Mayor of Bnei Brak and representative of the Vizhnitz Hasidic dynasty, has published an open letter urging unity within the Haredi public. The letter, appearing in the Vizhnitz community's publication 'Kesher Eitan,' is notable given Vizhnitz's alliance with the Gur Hasidic group, contrasting with their stance alongside Belz and other Hasidic courts. Mandel's letter acknowledges the increased strength of the United Torah Judaism party in the elections, noting over 290,000 votes counted before the final tally. He praised the efforts of community activists who worked on election day, under the direction of Shadar Yoel Yaakov and his staff, to mobilize voters.

Mandel highlighted that many in the Haredi community approached activists with a singular demand: unity. He stated that the public has demonstrated unwavering loyalty to Torah scholars and the Torah itself, turning out in large numbers despite personal grievances or frustrations, including the legal challenges faced by Torah students. He emphasized that the Haredi representation has, in recent years, failed to adequately address the status of Torah scholars, yet the public still voted for United Torah Judaism out of obedience to religious leadership.

The Deputy Mayor asserted that the public's electoral effort was not made to witness continued internal disputes and factionalism. He expressed that the community is weary of honor-based conflicts and wasted energy on internal disagreements, which should instead be directed outward to fight for basic rights. Mandel stressed that the Haredi public desires genuine unity, mutual respect, and true partnership for the sake of Torah and their future.

He warned that the public and spiritual battle is far from over, with the status of Torah scholars and yeshiva students remaining precarious amidst looming economic and legal threats. Mandel cautioned against internal strife, stating that external adversaries do not differentiate between different factions within the Haredi community. He concluded that wasting time on internal intrigues is irresponsible, and the community cannot afford to fight amongst themselves or act out of past grievances and petty political calculations. Failure to unite, he warned, would undermine their own future.