The headlines have taken dead aim. Unless you have just returned from Antarctica, you know that our community is under attack in the media and in other arenas as well. Specifically over the past year or so, we have come under assault and growing trends continue to threaten us. How can we respond?

The paltry voter turnout of the Orthodox community, mostly out of sheer laziness and apathy, sorely undercuts the full potential of our political clout. This lack of hishtadlus is inexcusable in the best of times and, in the present tenuous state of local, national, and international affairs for Torah Jews, unforgivable. Despite the tremendous success of our indefatigable Askonim in protecting our interests, these activists would be the first to acknowledge that our Torah way life is more than ever before in the cross hairs of radical organizations such as PETA, as well as aggressive government agencies across the country. These entities are scrutinizing our religious practices, practices so natural to us, but outlandish to the secular world.  Shechita, Kaporos, Bris Milah, end of life issues, and other common customs of religious Jews are ever more frequently requiring herculean efforts by our modern-day warriors to prevent, or at the very least stay governments  destructive meddling. Across the country, town boards and committees, often with the passive support of elected officials, insensitive to, and at times even prejudiced against our community, create legal barriers and roadblocks to Eruv construction and establishment of Yeshivas and Shuls in direct defiance of current RLUIPA laws, which protect our religious freedoms. To add insult to injury, state and local governments refuse to credit or reimburse our parochial schools for the tremendous amounts of property taxes that our communities pay, forcing us to cope with steep tuitions, even while facing ever-increasing taxes from the same municipalities for among other things, a public school system we do not use. As we all know, tuition is the single biggest issue impacting the broad religious community. With so much at stake how can we not vote?

Our most resourceful activists, talented attorneys, and effective Shtadlonim are pressed into duty, day after day, to defend and protect our Torah interests ranging from: religious discrimination, custody battles and rights for Jewish prisoners to health care proxies, end of life protections and autopsies. Daily battles are waged on our behalf in the face of mounting resentment and disrespect from a variety of adversaries. Even in the heart of Boro Park and Flatbush, entrenched Jewish political strongholds, legal expansion and enlargement of homes, schools and shuls to allow “natural growth”, are frequently denied by community boards on outlandish technicalities that barely conceal the blatant discrimination that lies palpably near the surface. Volatile social issues like same-gender marriage and abortion are being forced upon our society by an energized and well-organized tyrannical minority, with little reprieve in sight. Where are we? Not energized and most certainly not organized.

Our dear friends in New Jersey are facing similar difficulties in getting their fair share of government assistance. In this year’s New Jersey annual state budget, the pittance that our Yeshivas and day schools were receiving in the form of technology grants was stripped entirely from the state budget by the Governor, as if we didn’t exist.

Despite the universally acknowledged best efforts made by the Agudas Israel New Jersey office working in tandem and cooperation with the Orthodox Union, our community was
summarily ignored. Because, if we do not vote, from a political perspective we may as well not exist.

Internationally, Eretz Yisroel faces unrelenting pressure from the Obama administration, with nary a care for the position or interests of the American Jewish Orthodox community. Significantly, many politically engaged “Jewish” organizations that tacitly supported  candidate Obama, like J Street, AJC, the United Jewish Communities, Union for Reform Judaism, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, and others, today embolden the Obama Administration’s harsh and unyielding posture against “natural growth” in Yerushalyim. Our Klal organizations are only as powerful as we allow them to be and if the broad community has stopped going to the polls.

The obstacles are extreme and only with Hashems help can we persevere. But as the giants of the previous generation instructed us, we are also obligated to make a Hishtadlus, and in the coming week there is a simple and cost free, yet tremendously powerful, step that we can take in the right direction. We Must Vote.

Nationally, with the development and emergence of a reinvigorated Agudath Israel and  politically savvy Orthodox Union, the American Jewish orthodox community is well positioned and regarded on Capitol Hill and in key state Capitols across the country. But as any activist will confirm, it is the actual voting numbers of our community that gives our representatives the ammunition to successfully advocate for us and let’s call it the way it is-we have not delivered. So, while we may have previously lamented the abysmal voting turnout of our community, todays unprecedented tough times demand our immediate action. We must vote.

Focus for a moment on the following troubling estimate. In the 48th Assembly District in the heart of Boro Park, only 22% of our entire community is actually going to the polls. 78% of our community did not come out to vote! Overall, the religious community’s voting numbers are equally dismal. In the face of such trying times, how can this be acceptable?

*Are you upset that every time New York City needs to make a budget cut, the first victim is the already paltry government assistance that the Orthodox community receives, such as the priority 7 after school vouchers? Here is your opportunity to grab the Mayor’s attention and send a meaningful petition to City Hall. VOTE!

*Are you tired of the liberal/leftist agenda being forced down our throats via Albany and Washington? Don’t just post your displeasure on blogs. Do something much more substantial. VOTE!!

*Do you feel (rightfully so) that our Yeshivas do not receive their fair share of the State budget pie? – Send a clear undiluted message to your legislative leadership be it in Albany, Trenton, Sacramento, Springfield or your state- VOTE!!

In the age of sophisticated computers and polls, every politician knows which blocs voted and which blocs stayed home. Rabbosai, we have stopped voting, and the politicians know it. Political leaders and party officials across the spectrum, across New York State, and across the United States, are watching our community to see if our increased political advocacy is matched by an upturn in our voting numbers. If we turn out to vote en masse, we will suddenly very much exist for politicians, and our requests for our fair share of support programs can no longer be ignored without fear of electoral reprisal. The Askanim are going well above and beyond their call of duty. Are you taking the simple steps, which can make all of the difference? The stakes are too high for laziness and apathy.

Other communities have organized. What are we waiting for? It matters less whom you vote for, as long as you are counted as a voter. Every Askan and expert acknowledges that our community is being under- served and in many cases simply ignored. We must revitalize our communal voting and that means going to the polls-NOW. Let’s send a message that will resonate in City Hall, the Mayor’s and Governor’s mansions and in the Oval office.

Yes We Can!
VOTE.

–This Tuesday, Sept 15, is New York City Primary day. If you are registered to vote, you have a responsibility to your family, your community and yourself to vote. If you are not currently registered to vote, you can still register and vote on Election Day in November. Call 212-797-9000 to learn more about registering.

In New York City, the important citywide races this year are for Mayor, Comptroller and Public advocate but there are local City Council races that impact our community as well. In New Jersey, the race for Governor impacts the Torah community significantly. Please register to vote, and stand up for Klal Yisroel. Urge your children and other family members and friends over the age of eighteen to register, and stand up too. Communities that vote are communities that are heard. VOTE.

(Chaskel Bennett – YWN)