Today, Tuesday 9 Adar II is Election Day in Beit Shemesh. According to rabbonim and gedolei yisrael shlita, this is much more than a mayoral election, and even more than an election process to determine the future character of Beit Shemesh, but a showing of strength and an opportunity for the chareidi community to be MeKadesh Shem Shomayim during difficult days for the chareidi tzibur in Eretz Yisrael.

YWN-ISRAEL reported that HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita has instructed eligible voters who are abroad to return to vote.

Maran HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita attended a special kenos in Beit Shemesh stressing the importance of voting.

HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Halevy Wosner Shlita, in a rare move, spoke out regarding the election, instructing the tzibur to vote “for the chareidi candidate”.

HaGaon HaRav Avigdor Nebenzahl Shlita, the revered Rav of the Old City of Yerushalayim, took exception to his regular practice of not leaving the walls of the Old City in order to come to Beit Shemesh and urge the tzibur to re-elect Moshe Abutbul, the chareidi candidate. He explained that all considerations pale in comparison to the major consideration of who will further the cause of Torah and mitzvos; that is why, explained the Rav, it is absolutely necessary to re-elect Mayor Abutbul.

 The Bostoner Rebbe of Yerushalayim Shlita,  the Vishnitzer Rebbe Shlita and other Admorim Shlita came out and instructed their chassidim and the tzibur at large to vote in the election.

Some Gedolei Torah Shlita from the United States visited Beit Shemesh and others sent a special message, once again calling on the tzibur to get out and vote for the chareidi candidate.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)