Which Candidates Will Chassidim Back in Jerusalem Mayoral Race?
It is minhag that on the Shabbos before an election, that in the chassidish communities, the candidate backed by the rebbe is announced. This announcement did not come this past Shabbos despite the fact Tuesday is Election Day, presumably because there has not been an official announcement from Agudas Yisrael.
Towards the end of last week, Agudas’ Vaad of Eight gave the green light to begin negotiations with candidate Moshe Leon, towards determining if Agudah would officially back him in the upcoming runoff election, scheduled for Tuesday, 4 Kislev. However, that was short lived as Agudah decided to connect the elections in Tzefas, where Shlomei Emunim candidate Nachman Gelbech is running for mayor in the runoff election. Whatever the case may be, while in the first election Agudas Yisrael officially backed Yossi Deutsch, now, in the runoff election, there has not been any official word.
Some rumored that in Belz, it was to be announced the chassidus backs Moshe Leon, but no such announcement was made during Shabbos, and the same is true for Vishnitz and Boyan.
HaGaon HaRav Cohen Calls on Berkowitz to Drop Out of Jerusalem Race
HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen Shlita, head of the Shas Moetzas Gedolei Torah, told Jerusalem mayoral candidate Ofer Berkowitz “I love you – drop out of the race!”
Speaking at a Moshe Leon for Mayor election gathering, Rav Cohen warned that if Moshe Leon is not elected, the Chilul Shabbos in the capital will not only continue, but increase. He spoke of how he has already heard that opponent Ofer Berkowitz, the security candidate in the runoff election, will be permitting cafes to operate on the holy day.
Rav Cohen announced, “Berkowitz, I love you and I advise you to drop out of the race and create a major Kovod Shomayim.”
Regarding the chareidim who intend to vote for Berkowitz, Rav Cohen hinted “We don’t know how the Satan operates and at times, even persons with Yiras Shomayim will come and say ‘look what he does for us, what he is giving us, as we have holy interests and lose the whole world.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
So at least Rav Cohen is facing up to reality and understands that is a groundswell of support for Berkowitz amongst thr frum community. The fact that there has been no call to the chassidishe olam to vote for Leon says everything to those who know how to read a chassidishe road map. The flyers strewn in their tens of thousands on the streets of Yerushalayim on erev Shabbos by the Leon camp were disgusting. People do not want someone who has such hate for so many of Jerusalem’s residents just because they are not yet Shomrei Torah and mitzvos.
This is a horrifying mess. Florida recounts, is a horrifying mess. I am qualified to say both are horrifying messes, but nowhere near qualified enough to adjudicate which one is a bigger mess.
of the entire population of Jerusalem
Berkowitz is amongst the worst just repackaged now
avreimi
Hope this prediction
of yours will Fall as flat As some previous ones
” Leon camp were disgusting. People do not want someone who has such hate for so many of Jerusalem’s residents just because they are not yet Shomrei Torah and mitzvos.”
shall we get this straight
until now you attacked those supporting because he wasn’t sufficiently religious
now all of a sudden you’re attacking him because he’s too religious somehow
Based on prior record one would suspect his enemies put out those
THESE FLYERS WERE PROBABLY PUT OUT BY THE BERKOWITZ CAMP. IT’S A FAVORITE TRICK