Esther Wahav, a religious woman, explains that on the one hand something inside her brought her to the realization that she has a great deal to contribute to her community and this can best be accomplished by running in the city’s mayoral race. She admits on the other hand she asks herself “why go there? Who needs the headaches” but has decided to run. She adds that she consulted with a number of rabbonim prior to making her decision, and they encouraged her to go ahead and enter the race. She does not disclose the names of these rabbonim at this time.
Wahav is a chemical engineer by profession, and made aliyah from the FSU. She is married and has two children.
She explains “When I first contemplated entering into politics I felt fear. Those who are shomer mitzvos fear the lifestyle will be too high and their children will leave the path. The others, those who do not adhere to a Torah lifestyle fear a group of chareidi fanatics will come and turn this place into Beit Shemesh. I understand this fear from my Soviet Union days, when they told us ‘you are Jews’ in an effort to belittle us. However, there is a place for everyone in the city and there is nothing to fear. We must go in a path of ahavas yisrael and to bring people closer to the faith.”
She explains that while some people feel opening the stores in the city on Shabbos will bring additional income she will not assist in this for she explains as one who grew up among the goyim, she is well aware that parnasa will not increase as a result of increased chilul Shabbos chas v’sholom. She adds that most residents of Tiveria are “traditional and observe kashrus” and there is no reason to assist efforts to trample Shabbos in the city.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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13 Responses
How dare you call this prutza a “religious woman”
As any truely religious woman would realize she has no place in public life and the advice was probably sought out from those liberal “Rabbis” that seek to trample our mesorah!!
There I took care of most of the comments this story will generate.
Moderator, please take down #1, for their offensive, unintelligent, and hate-filled statement.
Hatzalach Rabba.
She seems to have a following that want to keep the city of Teveria b’shalom and with achdus. The chief rabbi of Teveria, Rav Aurevbach is an Ish Shalom and Ish Emes.
Crisesoftheweek,
Your comment would do an Iranian mullah proud.
‘As any truely religious woman would realize she has no place in public life and the advice was probably sought out from those liberal “Rabbis” that seek to trample our mesorah!!’
Wrong. We hold by Rav Uziel z’tz’l not Rav Kook z’tz’l.
Hatzlacha!! Your approach is wonderful. ” As we say in Yiddish… Tzu Gutt und Tzu Leit……. Shetzakeh Osi Limtzo Chayn Vesechel Tov B’einecho Uvchol Adam V’Chava….” ( Shabbat Prayer)
Chazak..
Charlie Hall – you are right, but do you really thing an ignoramus like that would know the opinions if Rav Uziel and Rav Kook, the tzaddikim who led the discussion on this issue? Actually, how many American Jews do you think know about the Machloket on women in public life and voting in the first place?
Oh, I hope she wins. She could be a role model of how to live beshalom with Jews of all persuations. She may even draw people closer to Yiddishkeit. Could be a great Kiddush Hashem.
To commenters #2 #4 and #5
My comment was a satire on how most posters here and places like crosscurrents/matzav feel towards women who choose to contribute to this world in ways other than having children and hosting tehilim groups
I guess the imitation of the kanoim was just wayyy too accurate. But kudos to standing up to bigotry like that..I’m just the wrong target.
We hold by Rav Uziel z’tz’l not Rav Kook z’tz’l.
When its convienient for you. When its convenient the other way, you pick/choose Rabbi Kook to follow.
In any event the question then was whether women should be given the right to vote. Not whether they should vote once the right was already extended. And certainly not whether women should seek public office.
Everyone read #1 including the last sentence and you’ll realize he is sarcastic (at least I hope)
maybe they will not be as corrupt as their male counterparts…
None of the Rabbonim held or allowed women to run for public office. A Jewish woman’s place is in the home. And none of the Rabbonim were against women voting in areas where women were allowed to vote. The debate was only whether wome should be granted suffrage. Nearly all the Rabbonim were against such suffrage including Rabbi Kook. Rabbi Uziel, on the left-wing spectrum, was the exception.