The Hiddush organization has requested the Central Election Committee disqualify a kol korei from Gedolei Yisrael Shlita to chareidim to vote in the election campaign.
Hiddush turned to Justice Elyakim Rubinstein who chairs the committee, asking him to disqualify the Yahadut Hatorah election advert. The kol korei is signed by a number of Gedolei Torah including HaGaon HaRav Aaron Leib Shteinman Shlita, Belzer Rebbe Shlita, Gerrer Rebbe Shlita, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita, and the Vishnitzer Rebbe Shlita.
Hiddush maintains the use of the kol korei is tantamount to using brachos from rabbonim, which is prohibited. Hiddush points out the kol korei ends with a bracha from the rabbonim.
Hiddush President and CEO attorney Uri Regev explains that if rabbis are giving a bracha for parnasa and arichas yomim is a violation of the election law. In the Hiddush request, Regev wants the kol korei banned from the electronic media too, i.e. chareidi websites.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
6 Responses
With all respect, why are these rabbonim inserting themselves into election politics and pandering to the electorate by offering barachos in exchange for voting for the religuous party candidates. This kind of quid pro quo devalues the political process and the rabbonim who engage in this kind of illegal political activity.
huh,,,explain in layman’s speech what is the lawsuit about?
So let me get this straight. Hiddush which stands for freedom FROM religion, because it believes that religion is (c”v) bunk/baloney…. wants to disqualify this Kol Koreh because of FAKE holy people are providing COUNTERFEIT benefits/rewards in the form of blessing which they know are nor real?!
Vote for me and Ill give you $10 in Monopoly money… should be disqualified because there is a payoff for your vote?!?!
What am I missing?
Why worry about a kol kerei. The ballot is secret. So falling in line with the wicked activities of internet and sms usage. How many really follow these gedolim on these issues in the privacyt of their homes.
Also if you listen to gedolim, why discount Rav Ovadia and the Satmar RAv? If its a matter of psak, you can choose your posek.
What chutzpah!!!! Rabbanim giving a braha to those doing the ratzon Hashem is ‘banned’??!? And they dare call themselves a ‘Jewish State’ ??!? The tactics of all sonai Yisrael going back to Paro – when you can’t deal with the TRUTH – outlaw it! The secular politicians have nothing to offer except for their own lies and garbage – so why should the TORAT EMES be allowed to open its mouth – that would be unfair competition!! I cannot believe that they are able to get away with such gall – the rabbanim should ban THEM from opening THEIR mouths more like!! Truely sickening!!
They would rather ban frum Jews from voting, but this is the best they think they get away with at this time.