Ponevezh Rosh Yeshiva HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein in a “schmooze” explained one’s obligation to vote on Election Day, adding anyone not voting does not have a share in Olam Haba.
Rav Edelstein is quoted as saying it is simple, and we are compelled to adhere to the words of the Gadol Hador for he understands the importance of a strong chareidi representation in the next Knesset.
“Maran Yosh Yeshiva, Rav Shach ZT”L ZY”A told me he was once walking with the Brisker Rav ZT”L ZY”A who walked for health reasons, when the Brisker was approached by a man. The man explained that there were upcoming elections for the directorate of the Eida Chareidis and he was among those eligible to vote, telling the Brisker Rov ‘I am not going to vote however because they are all the same.’ He asked the Brisker Rov if there is an inyan to vote or not.”
“Rav Shach asked the Brisker Rov permission to respond in his place, and told the man ‘even if you do not care who is elected it is a big inyan to vote because if there are more people who elected the Eida directorate it is a Kiddush Hashem. The world sees how many chareidim there are and this increases Kovod Shomayim and that is תכלית הבריאה’”.
Rav Edelstein explained therefore it is incumbent on each and every eligible voter to get out and vote for by doing so he declares השם הוא האלוקים’ and the more chareidi and Shomer Torah and Mitzvos votes, the greater the Kiddush Hashem.”
Rav Edelstein continued, explaining of late there has been an increased effort to draft chareidim as well as a growing tide against religion. The rosh yeshiva is quoted as saying “they don’t understand why we receive a deferment from service and they fail to understand the truth, the merit of the limud Torah that truly protects them and we have managed to prevent the induction of bnei Torah because of strong chareidi representation in Knesset.”
The rav explains therefore everyone must vote towards maintaining and increasing the chareidi strength in Knesset.
Rav Edelstein says anyone who does not vote is separating himself from the tzibur at large, quoting Gemara and the harsh words pertaining to those who do so, and one ignoring the words of Gedolei Yisrael or interprets them differently is not part of the tzibur and this mitzvah.
He closes by quoting Rabbeinu Yonah in Shaare Teshuvah, Madrega 10;
“והאיש הפורש מדרכי הציבור הנה הוא כמקטרג על הסכמת עבודת השם, וכיוצא מכלל המקדשים את השם, ומראה עצמו כי לא יחפץ להיות בסודם ולהיכתב בכתבם, הנה הוא מחלל את העבודה, והוא בכלל הכיתות שזכרנו שהן מבזים את דבר השם ואין להם חלק לעולם הבא”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
I’m sure the people voting for Balad and Yesh Atid will be please to know they have place in Olam ha-Ba.
It is good that the rabbanim are the political leaders of the frum community, but they should not pretend that voting for their favorite candidate is a mitsvah.
And, noting this was written by YWN, I suspect you are putting words into their mouth (or more exactly, quoting out of context), since whenever I’ve been in the presence of gedolei Torah, I’ve never heard them “trash talking” other gedolim, even those with whom they disagree on matters of halacha or community affairs – and that makes no difference whether one is talking about leaders of the Religious Zionists or the Eidah hareidus, Sefardim or Ashkenazim, Hasidm or Misnagdim.
To #1
There is nothing negative about others in what the Rosh Yeshiva said. He speaks positive, that it is a Kidush Hashem. And it is no Mitzvah to twist his words and say he also meant voting for CHILONIM. Just saying so is a Bizoyon Hatorah and Bizoyon the Kovod from the Rosh Yeshiva.
based on the words of Rabbeinu Yonah if one’s leader and mentor says to not vote, then that tzibur is a no vote group. then if he votes he loses his olom habo. either way the stakes are very high.
aren’t the many readers happy they may not vote in EY as they are not citizens
My Rov in Brooklyn encouraged all the mispallilim to vote in his drasha before the. Last elections. When called out: who should we vote for? he simply said: not for the sonay Yisrael.
Perhaps in Eretz Yisroel, this is the theme as well. There is more than one party to choose from that isn’t sonei Yisroel. To each shevet his or her own.
Some of us are citizens, AMEN!!