Maran HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita arrived in Beit Shemesh on Thursday evening, the eve of 5 Adar II to attend a special election kenos. The very presence of the gadol hador sent a strong message to the community, that the upcoming mayoral election is a most important one and the tzibur must get out and vote.
Taking part in that kenos were MKs Rav Moshe Gafne, Rav Uri Maklev and Rav Yaakov Asher. Rav Shteinman addressed the upcoming election and the opportunity to “MeKadesh Shem Shomayim in the world as everyone looks on. Take advantage of this!”
Gafne spoke in harsh terms, explaining the election is likely to determine the future of the chareidi tzibur in the mixed city for the years to come, stressing the importance of everyone getting out and voting for Rav Moshe Abutbul.
Gafne spoke of the amazing achdus at the Million Man Atzeres, adding the non-frum asked him how many people would attend. He told them that if Rav Shteinman instructed the tzibur to attend there would be 600,000. “I did not think we would reach 800,000. מלאך רע יענה אמן. It is a religious war”.
Earlier in the week YWN-ISRAEL reported that HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita announced that city residents who are abroad should return home to vote for the chareidi candidate in the election.
After the kenos the MKs visited the election headquarters, meeting with Abutbul and Shas party officials. Election Day is Tuesday, 9 Adar II 5774.
The attached letter is from HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Auerbach Shlita relating the upcoming election.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: Courtesy of JDN)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
2 Responses
The charedi world has stooped to a new low of using talmidei chachamim to accomplish political goals and agendas.
One who denigrates Torah scholars is defined as a heretic/apikoros, who has no portion in the World to Come (Sanhedrin 99b).
Jerusalem was only destroyed because of denigration of Torah scholars (Rambam, Hilchos Talmud Torah, Chapter 6).
Anyone who denigrates a talmid chacham has no cure for his malady (Shabbos 119b) – and there are many different interpretations of exactly what that “malady” is.
Tachlis, you don’t want to go there. And it is also worth taking note that the halocha doesn’t distinguish between Torah scholars that you like and those you don’t like, or whether you share their opinions on any given matter of halocha or hashokofa.
It’s a sad day when leaders gather around to support a corrupt politician. Everything is acceptable when you are chareidi. It also means that if your candidate is chareidi and the opponent is not yet religious then anyone who supports the opponent is an apikores. How low we have sunk!