Rabbi Sholom Dov Wolpe, who heads the Rabbanei Eretz Yisrael organization, released the organization’s opinion regarding the upcoming election. In the previous general election, Rav Wolpe, a Chabad rav, was on the same list with Baruch Marzel, but Marzel broke away and today holds the third slot on the Otzma Yisrael list.
Rav Wolpe bases his opinion on the teachings of the late Rebbe ZT”L from 35 years ago. He explains that the Ichud HaLeumi and Bayit HaYehudi parties have merged, and he is marveled that it appears instead of three seats, the combined party will have a significant Knesset representation.
Rabbi Wolpe continues to explain the breakdown of the different factions comprising the united list, the sub-factions, adding “the rebbe instructed us to vote for a party that unites”, adding “It is a Kiddush Hashem that a party which stands for Shleimus Haaretz will receive so many seats”.
Wolpe adds that Naftali Bennett gave the rabbonim in his organization personal assurances that the party will not remain in any government that hands over any areas of Eretz Yisrael chas v’sholom. Rabbi Wolpe labels Bennett ‘one who is fighting for Eretz Yisrael Shleima”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
The Rebbe zatzal would never instruct his followers to vote for a party that would end draft deferments for bnei yeshiva and accept conversions that are of dubious Halachik value.
The Rebbe loved Eretz Yisrael but he loved Torah and Shmiras Mitzvos wvwn more. His entire life was geared to getting each and every Jew to do one more mitzvah and come closer to Hashem. Naftali Bennet’s party does not stand for the values of the Rebbe.
This party stands for everything the Rebbe was against. I don’t understand this at all. Whether in terms of mihu yehudi, kedushas shabbos, arab autonomy, this party consistently opposes the view of Torah.
It is difficult to understand how any rabbi can support Bennett since his party is looking to legalize marriage between non religious Jews and Goyim (people with reform conversions). For this reason my understanding is that most of Chabad will not vote for Bennett’s party but rather Ben Ari’s Otzmah party.
BTW, the Rebbie zt”l never cared for the goings on of Rabbi Wolpe, who when the Rebbie was alive began the ‘rebbe is moshiach’ drivel against the expressed opposition of the rebbe.
One of the problems of serving a Dead Rabbi is deciding what he would say in any given situation. Only a close Talmid can really even attempt to do so.
BTW – before anyone starts to bang me over the head, I reread my statement and realized that my comment sounding insulting to the Rebbe, ztl. That was not my intentions and I apologize.