Haredi Voters Influence Likud Primaries Despite Not Supporting Party in General Elections

The recent Likud primaries revealed an unusual phenomenon where many Haredi voters openly participated in the party's internal elections to influence candidate selection. In Beit Shemesh, a senior Likud activist reported hundreds of Haredim voting in the primaries, despite their clear intention to support Haredi parties in the national Knesset elections. These voters sometimes back candidates who promise them benefits and perks, raising ethical questions about interfering in a party one does not intend to support in the general election.

This issue gains additional significance at the start of the Jewish month of Elul, a time for self-reflection and spiritual accounting. The article draws on traditional Jewish teachings emphasizing the severity of falsehood and the importance of honesty, even in matters that might appear as minor distortions. It cites rabbinic sources warning against any deviation from truthfulness, highlighting that such integrity strengthens faith and trust.

The piece stresses that while human effort and striving are necessary, the means must be righteous and transparent, as outcomes are ultimately determined by divine providence. It recounts a story about the father of Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, who distinguished between divine decree and personal responsibility, illustrating that belief in divine control does not exempt one from accountability for their actions.

The article concludes that the month of Elul is an appropriate time not only to evaluate goals but also to scrutinize the methods used to achieve them. Rabbi Chaim Moshe Katz, the author, is a rabbi in West Bnei Brak, a prominent Daf Yomi lecturer, and a radio host on Kol Barama.