The English speaking community of Ramat Beit Shemesh had the rare honor of hosting Rav Aharon Feldman shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Israel Baltimore and one of the leading Gedolei-Torah in America. Rav Feldman traveled to Israel specifically for the purpose of carrying and conveying the message of the Gedolei Torah of America that it is absolutely incumbent upon every individual to vote for Moshe Abutbol for mayor.
Rav Feldman emphasized that this election is not just an issue of who will manage the municipality, but one of allowing a terrible chillul Hashem to take place, r”l, or ensuring that a tremendous Kiddush Hashem comes about.
He noted the lengthy article printed in Maariv (a secular publication) that demonstrated how the Israeli court’s jump from 36 false votes to the assumption that entire Charedi congregations did so is a heinous twisting of logic that would most certainly not have been perpetrated against any other community.
Rav Feldman further emphasized that Moshe Abutbol, because he is a fully-committed Torah Jew who follows the guidance of Rabbanim and Gedolei Torah, will ensure that Beit Shemesh will continue to flourish not only materially and physically but spiritually as well.
Augmenting the live address of Rav Feldman was a video presentation of Rav Yaakov Perlowe shlita, Rebbe of Novominsk and Chairman of the Moetzes Gedolei Ha’Torah of Agudath Israel of America, and Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia and one of the foremost Gedolei-Torah of America. Rav Perlowe and Rav Kamenetsky, as well, echoed and underscored the critical importance of re-electing the Charedi mayor, Moshe Abutbol.
The event was hosted in the Beis Teffila Shul which is a major center for Anglos living in Ramat Beit Shemesh and is under the guidance of Rav Chaim Zev Malinowitz. It was a truly inspiring event in which English speaking, observant Jews covering the full spectrum of orthodoxy came to demonstrate their great respect for the Gedolei Torah, and in order to hear their critically significant message regarding the elections.
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9 Responses
that it is absolutely incumbent upon every individual to vote for Moshe Abutbol for mayor—–STILL haven’t heard the reason WHY?
Not surprising that the kenos took place in an ANGLO shul since we AMERICANS are used to weighing, understanding, and measuring candidates on their past performance. We tend to take into consideration a skill set, relationship building ability, and plans for the future. I guess when it comes to Israeli voting….you are to leave that and Amazing Savings behind!
Why are all these Rabbis involved in an election? Do you know how wierd this looks??
You guys can’t understand unless you’re here and in the gedolim scene, but suffice it to say that it boils down to emunas chachamim and we’ll see when mashiach comes who decided to join the bandwagon and who didn’t. It’s not a matter of different gedolim disagreeing, they are all saying the same thing – and when we learn one iota of what they do and can come close in daas Torah we can argue, but we can’t even if we disagree – and having lived in the city and seen everything Abutbul did to bring up the level of the city I agree 1000% but even if I didn’t we have a chiyuv to listen to daas Torah (as in the first time around when I had no idea why to vote for him but was happy I did)
#1 zionflag:
before the national elections our gedolim told us not to vote for Bayit Yehudi because they would brinmg nothing but destruction on the torah community
some of us knew better than our gedolim and voted for that wonderful man – mr bennet.
some of us went even further and voted for Mr Lapid because we thought we knew that he only wanted what is best for us.
we knew better than our gedolim that he would never harm the torah world and that if only they would be willing to engage in conversation/debate with him (instead of just denegrading him) they would understand his pure intentions…
it seems that you haven’t learnt your lesson yet.
by all means, vote for mr Cohen… but if he wins please have the decency to come back here in a year’s time and appologise when you discover how you have been fooled and how the face of bet shemesh has been changed for the worse.
we can choose to listen to our gedolim and rely on their understanding or we can join the likes of Rabbi Lipman and declare that we know better than Rav Stienman, Rav Kanievsky etc. and vote for a candidate who promises to keep your streets clean but at the same time promises to open pubs in the non dati part of the city on friday night.
don’t make a mistake you will later regret…
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I have personally known Rav Feldman shlit”a for nearly thirty years. He is an ish emes who lived nearly half a century in Eretz Yisroel. He knows very well what is going on in Beit Shemesh. When he makes a statement, you should listen very carefully and respectfully before making any response.
this reminds me of black people voting for Obama just because of the color of his skin
I hope Cohen wins
there is no reason to vote for abutbul other than he is charidi and no reason not to vote eli other than he is traditional…
whatever happened to who can run the city better?
who will run more efficiently
who will keep cleaner
who will keep status quo
i vote eli- everyone entitled to their own – may the best man win
I spoke with my Rav and rebbe who said to vote for the man who will run bet shemesh better and increase kiddush hashem. Vote for who you believe in. As a local, you and your Rav have insights that should inform your vote.