During Monday’s Daf Yomi shiur, Reb Eli Stefansky took a full six minutes to discuss the ongoing World Zionist Congress (WZO) elections, encouraging those whose rabbanim permit participation to vote for Eretz Hakodesh.
Rabbi Stefansky leads Mercaz Daf Yomi, which is followed by 20,000 participants daily, and used this platform to highlight the potential impact of the elections on the allocation of WZO funds. It was noted that Reform movements have historically voted in large numbers, directing funding toward initiatives that are detrimental and antagonistic to frum people in Eretz Yisroel. During the previous WZO elections, Eretz Hakodesh secured relatively significant support, resulting in the redirection of some of the WZO’s funding toward yeshivos, Keren Hashviis, and other institutions aligned with frum values.
Rabbi Stefansky referenced the previous endorsements of Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l and Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, who had stated that participation in these elections was a mitzvah. He noted that rabbanim consulted in the current election cycle have expressed similar views. However, Rabbi Stefansky also acknowledged that others, including the Satmar chasidus and a number of litvish rabbanim and roshei yeshiva, maintain a fiercely anti-Zionist stance and are opposed to participating in the election. The decision, he emphasized, should be made in accordance with one’s personal rav, but for those whose rabbanim permit participation, he encouraged voting for Eretz Hakodesh.
[Disclaimer: YWN does not take a position on this matter but is presenting the discussion for informational purposes.]
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52 Responses
Bravo YWN for not taking sides between
Rav Eli Stefanski and Rav Dov Landau
(Who they published last week from wrote:
״ויש בזה תמיכה בכפירה ושמד וחילול ה״)
Vote for Eretz Hakodesh – Slate #11
Vote now at EretzHakodesh.org
@BMG- For the sake of honesty, rav dov landau never said anything about eretz hakodesh or the WZO. Don’t put words into his mouth, you rashkan.
ps: i am not voting for this regardless. just making a case for honesty
https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/israel-news/2365962/daas-torah-harav-dov-landau-paskens-that-any-association-with-zionist-institutions-is-assur-gammur.html
The headline is extremely misleading as the article says he encouraged people to follow Das Torah. Not sure why yeshiva world posted this, any explanation???????
Rav Aharon Feldman has written a long article about the lies and deception that Eretz Hakodesh has spread in their entire campaign, and how it is definitively prohibited to vote in the WZO elections.
With much great respect for Rabbi Eli Stefansky, he has no say in the matter. He is a huge marbitz Torah, and does a phenominal job encouraging thousands of people to learn, but he is not a gadol or a daas Torah. For such sensitive and possibly dangerous klal issues, we look only to our gedolim.
@jack24 it clearly says in the article two times (not once, but twice!) that rabbi stefasnksy said to ask your own rov. you are just another hater.
yes, the ywn headline is accurate. he encouraged the voting.
the misleading one is you. now ask mechila.
Vote early and vote often! As many times as possible!
@XPRESS – The Rav Aharon Feldman who met with the Israeli ZIONIST President Herzog this summer and posed for photos with him? or the Rav Aharon Feldman who joined the Reformed movement and the WZO in the Washington DC protest?
I’m so confused! Is this a Purim joke?
Once a yid came to rabbi he was very wealthy didn’t keep shabbat and lots of his money came from chillul shabbat says this Jew to the rabbi I’ll give you a million dollars just tell me that my chilul shabbat was okay, the Rabbi said I have big family to support but to say that it was okay, no can’t do that, says the wealthy man now you got a million dollars
DT seeker
You are misinformed
Rav Feldman was not there for reasons that are consistent to his position on Zionism
See this link
https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/general/2241089/read-it-rav-aharon-feldman-shlita-responds-to-massive-controversy-over-pro-israel-march.html
I received Eretz Hakodesh’s e-mail last night and proudly voted this morning. There is a $5 registration fee. I wasn’t sure what to do before Shabbos, but this Shabbos, my Rosh Hkahal announced that our kehilla is voting for Eretz Hakodesh
To Ferd says:
I would assume that If R Eli is talking about it in his shiur for over 5 minutes and as props he uses are Ami and Mishpacha magazines Yes, he’s endorsing Eretz Hakodesh
@ Daas Torah Seeker: Rav Aharon Feldman did not attend the the DC protest.
I do not think that a geshoyriner should encourage ppl to do something that many rabbis are against even if he adds a disclaimer to ask your rov
He shud not be machnis rosho into a matter where there are strong opinions of gefolim that are against what he says
It is a shtickel gaavahdik don’t you think
I took the $5 and bought a pizza roll
Many areas in our lives as frum Yidden involve navigating various viewpoints, ideals, and flavors. Whether it is which hechsher we eat, or which shul we daven in, we each have our own path. At the same time, we recognize that others have different or even opposing views. Although we don’t always accept them, we respect them as valid under the principle of eilu v’eilu divrei Elokim Chaim.
Our gedolim, including Maran Sar HaTorah HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l and HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein zt”l charged Eretz HaKodesh with a mission. We need to protect the kedusha of Eretz Yisroel.
As with participation with the Israeli government, some are even of the opinion that it is assur to take part in any elections for the Knesset. These extreme views are not the path our gedolim have set forth for us. We respect those views, but that doesn’t mean we change ours. There will always be others who have different derech. But, we will continue to ensure that Eretz Yisroel remains Eretz HaKodesh. It is crucial that we VOTE VOTE VOTE
ERETZHAKODESH.ORG
My issue is that the people in the opposition are such bully’s that its sickening.
Why can’t someone have a different opinion than you? The behavior is like I’ve never seen before. Such bullying, rishis, intimidation. Threats.
THE WORST
I have never before commented. I have been giving Adirei hatora a substantial donation every year for 3 year ever since Lazer Scheiner came to my office and sweet talked me (no taynos to him chas vesholom!).
I will bli neder never give another dime.
ColdHardLies:
Our gedolim never, ever gave any such mission to the mesisim uMedichim at EH. No gadol ever permitted this abomination, as Rav Aharon Feldman shlit”A has pointed out in writing.
There is absolutely zero heter to violate Klal Yisrael’s mesorah by joining (and then voting) in the heretical WZO.
***NEWSFLASH***
TAG has officaly blacklisted the Eretz hakodesh website.
This is a ruthless move by TAG. No one should be supporting TAG ever again. To mix themselves into this machlokes? To now block “shmutz” and Eretz Hakodesh together?
How digraceful!
@HaKatan – Rav Aharon Feldman posed for photos with President Herzog and had such a warm discussion with him.
There’s absolutely no logic in not voting the massive amounts of money away from the reform and conservative movements and towards moisdois HaToirah. Reb Chaim Kanievsky is quoted as supporting the voting here in the past. Why allow huge amounts of money to go to Kofrim, when those same monies can be turned over to our Moisdois? It’s a double win.
@shekergamur is this true?
@Hakatan, I have personally spoken with many of the gedolei hador in American and Eretz Yisroel and they have all said that it is imperative that frum yidden vote in the WZO.
Rabbi Feldman Shlita has an opinion that differs from many gedolim, and that is his right. But that’s just what it is, an opinion. An opinion that is widely opposed.
Everyone should take the advice of their own rebbe, rosh yeshiva or rav.
MARAN REB ELYA DOV WHACTFOGEL THE LEADER OF AMERICAN JEWRY AND REB DOV LANDAU TOGETHER WITH REB MOSHE STERNBUCH THE LEADERS OF ISRAELI JEWRY ARE ALL AGAINST WZO DO NOT VOTE
@YOU KNOW ME , YOU PROBABLY GAVE 5K MAX, I dont think a single gevir ever commented on ywn commments section its beneath them and their time, no one needs your dumb donation the rosh yeshiva of lakewood is a tzaddik and he is following the mesorah hes allowed to hold what he holds its backed by many people
The Gedolim are against it and say it’s assur to vote. Period.
The Agudas Yisroel of America (backed by the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of America) put out this statement about WZO in 2020… After reading it, it is clear that our gedolim forbid joining the WZO, and there’s no absolutely no place in Orthodox Judaism for supporting Eretz Hakodesh.
Statement: “Recent organizational statements from representatives of the Zionist movement have implied that Chareidi Jews have accepted the Jerusalem Program of the World Zionist Organization. This Program, which is a statement of the Zionist ideology, declares Zionism to be “the national liberation movement of the Jewish people” and avers to “the centrality of the State of Israel . . . in the life of the nation.”
The Jewish people is a nation based on the belief in One Hashem and the Torah He gave us, and nothing else. By omitting this truth, the Jerusalem Program – and the Zionist ideology it embodies – attempt to redefine the essence of the Jewish people as a political entity similar to all other nations of the world. This redefinition goes against the essence of our emunah and mesorah.
Among the foundational principles upon which the Torah giants of the past century established the Agudas Yisroel movement was the firm rejection of the Zionist redefinition of Jewish peoplehood. Throughout its history Agudas Yisroel has remained faithful to that essential principle, and it will continue to do so. We therefore reiterate: Any suggestion that the ideology of Zionism is compatible with Chareidi Jewry’s fundamental beliefs has no basis and must be rejected.
Also without basis is the notion that a party identifying itself as representing Chareidi Jews has the authority to sign a coalition agreement within the World Zionist Congress together with other Jewish parties including non-Orthodox religious groups, as happened last week. Chareidi Jewry has long abided by the halachic ruling of the most revered Torah leaders of a generation ago that it is forbidden to join Jewish organizations whose purpose is to bring Orthodox Jewry together with non-Orthodox under one organizational umbrella. What happened last week at the World Zionist Congress transgresses the spirit of that ruling, and represents a departure from accepted Chareidi norms. Whatever financial benefits may accrue to worthy institutions as a result of this coalition agreement, they do not justify the abandonment of principle.
At a time when there is so much confusion in our Jewish world, it is essential that we Chareidim remind ourselves that we stand for principle – and that we cannot stand silently by when fundamental values are distorted.”
https://agudah.org/statement-of-agudath-israel-on-charedi-principles-2
Postscript: “What our statement does not mean is that we reject in any way our fellow Jews who may not recognize that truth…
…And, most importantly, our statement is not intended to – and does not – in any way injure Jewish unity. On the contrary, it fosters it, in its reminding to all Jews that, as Rav Saadia Gaon famously declared: “The Jewish nation is a nation only by virtue of the Torah.”
Yeshiva Lane:
In other news, lots of stocks went down today. And therefore? That has zero relevance to the fact that Rav Aharon Feldman has issued multiple statements condemning EH and forbidding joining/voting in the WZO, both written and on video during COVID that came on the heels of the last WZO vote.
Why is everyone getting bend out of shape on this election. Who here remembers how religious Chareidi Knesset members ran up to hug the Knesset speaker who is an open mishkav Zachor married to another guy. This was after he spoke and introduced his male partner and two little kids they adopted. That was ok because money talks. Shame.
I fall to understand why people have an issue with a viewpoint which allows having a warm conversation with the President of Israel, yet doesn’t allow participating in an activity which includes confirming that you believe in the Jerusalem program, i.e.
“Zionism, the national liberation movement of the Jewish people, brought about the establishment of the State of Israel and views a Jewish, Zionist, democratic, and secure State of Israel to be the expression of the common responsibility of the Jewish people for its continuity and future.”
If you vote, that’s what you’re affirming you believe in.
Just saying.
Yeshiva Lane:
Yochanan ben Zakkai had a nice conversation with Vespasian.
I can see both sides of this coin. He said ask your rav, seek guidance. He didn’t blanket tell you what to do. It’s no secret how much zionists and these reform organizations hate Yiddishkeit,, but their money is always greater and if we can use some perhaps it’s kedai. Not my call
Why do people quote “THE GEDOLIM” as saying one way or the other. It’s a machlokes. Guess what, that has been going on for centuries. You are wrong if you call Bais Hillel “THE GEDOLIM” and if you call Bais Shamai “THE GEDOLIM”. The list of gedolim who support it is significant. I would say anyone who puts THEM down is a kofer.
Bais Yaakov of Baltimore was allowed bdochek to go to the rally in washington
Inasmuch as Daas Torah forbids me from voting for Eretz Hakodesh, I plan to cast my vote for OIC. I am pretty sure that my Rav has endorsed that slate as well, but I will check now.
There are Rabbis for, there are Rabbis against. There are gedolim for and gedolim against. WZO is a political organization, Agudas Yisroel is a political organization. My gadol is not your gadol. My rabbi is not your rabbi. If you connect with satmar then that is your rov, and they poskin to stay away from anything secular, so they do not vote in israeli elections or wzo elections. If you connect with others that poskin to save what you can from the secular to brand it holy then you are advised to vote in israeli elections and wzo. There is no question that they have accomplished in turning money that would have been used against the religious to be used to spread Torah values even amongst the secular.
Then there are those that advise to vote in Israeli elections which is a secular govt but will advise against voting for the secular WZO. That is there psak and it does not really matter what their reason is. What matters is why I have to follow someone else’s psak. I can respect your gadol but he is just not who I follow. If my rov and gadol says 1 thing, it is not a reason to knock him down or disrespect my point of view.
The trick is to look at everything through Hashems eyes. They are all gedolim and beloved by Hashem.
Rav Dov Lando penned a strong letter condemning Charedi involvement in the WZO and its affiliated orgs. Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsh wrote that “he does not permit” voting, due to the requirement to affirm the Jerusalem Program. The majority of the Moetzes in America were signatories on a sharp prohibition against EHK. All four Roshei Yeshiva of Lakewood. Rav Ahron Feldman penned numerous articles and letters. The list goes on and on. Meanwhile, all the reports of Rabbanim supporting this are mere hearsay, and I don’t think there is a single Gadol who put his support behind this. If you look on the EHK website, all you see are a collection of photos with Rabbi Lerner posing with various Gedolim…
ColdHardLies:
That’s impossible. You obviously wouldn’t post the names of those alleged gedolim.
Joining the WZO has been universally forbidden ever since Herzl SR”Y started that organization. Even for the Shas party of the Zionist government, when they wanted to join, Rav Elyashiv forbade it and called it a nevala sheEin kamohu.
before shelling out the $5 think about the hot crispy pizza roll that you can buy with that money instead.
okaaay:
Which “Rabbis” are “for” violating the severe prohibitions involved in joining the WZO which has been universally forbidden for over a century?
WZO is an ideological organization which happens to to do tremendous damage to Klal Yisrael but, even without that, its ideology and members are totally treif. You cannot compare that to Agudah.
There is no question that they have hurt Klal Yisrael instead of helping, including condoning the Zionist draft of the yeshiva students.
“They are all gedolim and beloved by Hashem../”
lets say they are… but we are not hashem.
just because hashem loves them does not mean we have to,
on shvii shel pesach the malachim are not allowed to say shirah because hashem says my creations were killed, but jews did say shira because they are not hashem and were saved from genocidal maniacs
I just read up on this group. It sounds very good. In order to defeat the reform who are fighting orthodoxy in Israel we need to fight back. Yes I think any normal religious Jew must vote in this ZOA election. I just saw how Satmar joined the lefty Obama chillul shabbos group ADL on same page telling people what not to wear on Purim as it could anger some people. It’s ok to be joined with ADL which opposes aid to yeshivas and supports gay marriage all over the world. That’s ok. But to fight the reform heretics is a problem. Get out and defeat the reform.
Hakatan, I get it—you’re passionate, and you’ve got your sources lined up like ammunition. But let’s not pretend you’re the sole gatekeeper of truth here. You say it’s “impossible” I’ve spoken to gedolei hador who support voting in the WZO elections? I don’t need to post a roster of names for you—it’s not a courtroom, and I’m not on trial. I’ve had those conversations, and they’ve made it clear: protecting the kedusha of Eretz Yisroel sometimes means engaging, not just retreating. You don’t have to agree, but don’t act like it’s unthinkable.
You bring up Rav Elyashiv zt”l and his stance on Shas—fair point, he was fierce about it. But gedolim aren’t a monolith; they weigh situations differently. Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l and Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l saw value in Eretz HaKodesh’s mission—others have too. Rabbi Feldman shlit”a has his view, and it’s a valid one in the spectrum of eilu v’eilu, but it’s not the final word for everyone. You’re quick to slap “heretical” on the WZO like it’s an open-and-shut case, but plenty of Torah-true Jews see it as a tool, not a trap.
Here’s the bottom line: I’m not asking you to change your derech—stick with it, follow your rabbonim. But stop acting like anyone who disagrees is a liar or a heretic. The mesorah’s bigger than your corner of it. For those whose gedolim say vote, we’re voting. Deal with it.
@real yid: You have noble intentions, but that’s not how we make decisions. All the gedolim have said that it’s assur to vote in the WZO elections, and we sure won’t defeat the reform by going against our gedolim! 🙂
Hakatan,I get it—you’re passionate, and you’ve got your sources lined up like ammunition. But let’s not pretend you’re the sole gatekeeper of truth here. You say it’s “impossible” I’ve spoken to gedolei hador who support voting in the WZO elections? I don’t need to post a roster of names for you—it’s not a courtroom, and I’m not on trial. I’ve had those conversations, and they’ve made it clear: protecting the kedusha of Eretz Yisroel sometimes means engaging, not just retreating. You don’t have to agree, but don’t act like it’s unthinkable.
You bring up Rav Elyashiv zt”l and his stance on Shas—fair point, he was fierce about it. But gedolim aren’t a monolith; they weigh situations differently. Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l and Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l saw value in Eretz HaKodesh’s mission—others have too. Rabbi Feldman shlit”a has his view, and it’s a valid one in the spectrum of eilu v’eilu, but it’s not the final word for everyone. You’re quick to slap “heretical” on the WZO like it’s an open-and-shut case, but plenty of Torah-true Jews see it as a tool, not a trap.
Here’s the bottom line: I’m not asking you to change your derech—stick with it, follow your rabbonim. But stop acting like anyone who disagrees is a liar or a heretic. The mesorah’s bigger than your corner of it. For those whose gedolim say vote, we’re voting. Deal with it.
This is exactly the point
If Eretz hakodesh would just say we have some young rabbis who support us against all the other gedolim that would be fine
But they know they would lose so they say rav Gershon and rav chaim
Rav Dov was one of the closest gedolim to rav Chaim who rav Chaim would ask to review his seforim before publishing
And he was the biggest supporter of rav gershon edelstein and he held he was the manhig hador
Does anyone believe that rav dov would write that rav Chaim and rav Gershon were supporting kfira and shmad!!!??
As he wrote in his letter regarding one who supports Eretz hakodesh?
ש בזה תמיכה בכפירה ושמד?
Insanity! rav dov knows more than anyone else that neither rav Chaim or rav Gershon supported it and anything from them is fake or the question wasn’t asked correctly at all
“The proof is on video.”
1)The Agudah writes against EH and gedolim in America and rav Feldman writes to the whole world that it’s assur to vote because rav Chaim’s support is a farce. rav chaims support was fabricated.
2)EH has a few years to video rav chaim explaining that they are and wrong and he looked into the shayla and is aware of the pratim and is still machria to do it (a few years and their parnasa and millions of dollars on the line) and all they can get is a video that their embarrassed to present to the public because it proves the gedolim were correct!
Checkmate!
BMG,You’re making some big leaps here, and I respect the passion, but let’s slow down and unpack this. First off, no one’s saying Eretz HaKodesh is pretending every gadol under the sun is on board—they’re pointing to specific ones, like Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l and Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, who they say gave them a green light to protect kedushas Eretz Yisroel. You’re hanging a lot on Rav Dov’s letter, and sure, he’s a heavy hitter—close to Rav Chaim, tied to Rav Gershon, a manhig in his own right. But even the biggest gedolim don’t cancel out each other’s psak. Rav Dov calling it “kfira and shmad” is his take—strong words, no doubt—but it doesn’t mean Rav Chaim or Rav Gershon couldn’t have seen it differently.
You’re acting like it’s impossible for gedolim to disagree on something this complex. What about eilu v’eilu? Rav Chaim and Rav Gershon weren’t pushovers—they knew what was at stake in Eretz Yisroel. If they backed Eretz HaKodesh (and I’ve heard from people who were there, not just rumors), it wasn’t some sloppy, tricked-into-it moment. Rav Dov might say it’s fabricated, but where’s the hard proof it’s all fake? A letter from one gadol doesn’t erase what others said or did.
As for the video stuff—Agudah and Rav Feldman shlit”a have their stance, and it’s legit for those who follow them. But EH doesn’t need a Hollywood production of Rav Chaim breaking it all down to validate their position. Maybe the video’s not a slam dunk, maybe they’re holding back for their own reasons—doesn’t mean the whole thing’s a lie. You’re saying “checkmate” like absence of a viral clip settles it. It doesn’t. Gedolim don’t rule by YouTube metrics.
Here’s what it comes down to: some gedolim say no, some say yes. Rav Feldman’s letter, Rav Dov’s words—they matter, but they’re not the only voices. I’ve spoken to rabbonim here and in Eretz Yisroel who say voting in the WZO is a must to safeguard what’s holy. You follow your manhigim, I’ll follow mine. Calling it “insanity” or “fabricated” doesn’t make the other side disappear—it just proves we’ve got different paths. Vote or don’t, but let’s not pretend one opinion owns the truth.
i understand that eretz hakodesh’s goal here is to convince the public that its very nice what each gadol holds but everyone can do whatever they want and eretz hakodesh can continue their jobs and lifes mission and continue to have millions under their control etc since its a machlokes gedolim and therefore lets just keep saying that we appreciate everyone’s passion but its a machlokes gedolei hador – if it was i would agree 100 percent however lets look at the facts instead of the nice words:
1)All agree that this isnt a new question that just arose now it is a question that the gedolei hadoros since the chofetz chaim have paskened and written that it is a severe issur in the words of the chofetz chaim, “assur even if as a result klal yisroel’s yeshivos will close down (basically the destruction of klal yisroel)
2)as recently as 10 years ago the gadol hador and the father-in-law of rav chaim and the one rav chaim said :הלכה כמותו בכל מקום rav elyashiv ztl – said the issur did not change and said joining even to fight the reform is an “abomination”
3)now a party is established claiming all this has changed. now such change has happened before in klal Yisroel. How? with clear letters in writing from the gedolei hador saying so however the facts just arent there. these are the published facts:
4)the entire agudah moetzes gedolei hatorah in the usa approved a aguda published attack on eretz hakodesh saying it was a historic pirtzah in the fight against the reform
5))many gedolim have signed detailed letters explaining the issur
6)rav dov landau who is excepted by most of the chareidim as the gadol hador (doesnt mean all but definitely more than any other gadol today) writes that: its supporting kfira shmad and a chillul hashem
[lets digest that for a second: supporting kfira! shmad! the gemara says גדול המסיתו יותר מן ההורגו it is worse to cause someone to sin then to murder him! and rav dov says if you vote you are supporting shmad! and chillul Hashem which the gemara says only death can atone for that]
7)lets be clear- in any other case in klal yisroel -in any other shayla even if its a shayla that was already paskened by the chofetz chaim and all the gedolim prior and even if many gedolei hador say its still assur it can still be possible to be matir. but how? in any similar case in halacha the mattirim would get clear teshuvos and letters from gedolei hador of similar stature explaining that the facts have changed and now it is mutar! And then we can say eilu vaeilu
did that happen?
just the opposite!
on the other end eretz hakodesh presents not proof of even one gadol hador arguing (and remember they had a desperate desire and need and search for such proof it would save the day for them and would bring them tens of thousands of votes that theyre spending millions now to get so no doubt they spent weeks months and years and as you see they have money also) rather rumors and unverified claims that rav chaim and rav gershon were asked (what were they asked? we cant know! how was the shayla explained to them? we cant know!) but either way no proof whatsoever
8)after this claim is made without any proof in writing as is critical especially if it is to go against all the gedolim that have spoken against in writing – the senior rosh yeshiva in the usa writes a detailed letter testifying that the rumor of rav chaims approval is a farce and its a shenanigan and not possible and that rav shmuel agreed with him (we can assume thats the truth even if you think hed lie thru his teeth chas veshalom-because he wrote and published it for the whole world including r shmuel – to see.
9)after that all the gedolim of aguda (and you can ask them they will tellm you theyd never argue with rav chaim and attack his approval) approve an attack in writing on eretz hakodesh calling it a historic pirtzah in the fight against the reform
10) but whats the problem? their gadol rav chaim and rav gershon is still alive. no need to give up on the everything, in any other such situation the ppl of eretz hakodesh would obviously with righteous indignation simply goback into r chaim and once and for all prove to the world that the gedolim of the usa are mistaken – there are no shenanigans and we have proof (this from a party thats spending millions now to convince ppl to vote and without a question such proof from rav chaim is worth more than all the advertisements in the world)
alas for some strange reason nothing of the sort happens at all – and with all the need and money (millions to get votes) and years to get the proof somehow, they dont manage to get a single gadol hador (forget about matching the prohibitors) to write for them!
what in the world can possibly explain that? Please tell me even something that makes a drop of sense!
[pls note im not saying that you cant go with your personal rabbi and do what you want im just saying if you think that will only bring a few votes you cant pretend you have the gedolei hador against all the gedolei hador that have written in detail signed spoke and publicized without an ounce of proof when there is no way in the universe that you didn’t spend weeks and months trying to get it.]
Therefore if you had a similar financial question and in this same situation and proofs as explained above there was a risk of losing your livelihood you would still do it then go ahead [and I believe your patur from mitzvos anyway in that situation because anyone who would take such a financial risk in such a situation clearly has the halacha of a shoteh whos patur from mitzvos] but if you wouldn’t risk your livelihood if it was the same situation financially then how much more say when it is not a monetary question but rather a question in the words of the gadol hador of: supporting kfirah and shmad (it is worse to cause one to sin then to murder) and chilul hashem (that only death can atone for).
Pls respond to the facts and leave out the complements and appreciation of passion or unverified claims of machlokes and eilu v’eilu etc. whatever else the millions of dollars campaign in every possible media day and nigh is pushing -just simply show that one piece of proof that would work much better then millions of dollars in ads!
Ferd, I understand you are pro WZO but R Dov Landau did put out a letter which was in the American and Israeli Yated Neeman
I would like to respond to BMG as follows. Contrary to what some have said Rav Chaim Kanievsky and Rav Shmuel Kamenetzky have both most certainly supported Eretz Hakodesh. Both Rav Berel Povarsky and Rav Yosef Efrati checked with Rav Chaim Kanievsky and confirmed that he supported Eretz Hakodesh in spite of giving him all the potential problems with doing so including Rav Elyashivs psak to which he responded it’s a different set of details so a different shayla. Rav Dovid Feinstein also supported Eretz Hakodesh and asked Rav Aryeh Zev Ginzberg to help Eretz Hakodesh as he wrote in a letter and in the letter Rav Aryeh Zev also confirmed that “Daas Torah” was consulted every step of the way. Rav Gershon Eidelstein supported them as well. There are a number of other gedolim who are and have supported Eretz Hakodesh but I think this is surely enough to be considered “Eilu ve Eilu” particularly considering the fact that the biggest universally accepted gedolim in the past dor in Eretz Yisroel and The U.S.A. including Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Gershon Eidelstein, Rav Shmuel Kamenetzky and Rav Dovid Feinstein all support and or supported Eretz Hakodesh. As far as ur valid point of what happened to the psak of all the gedolim from 100 years ago and then more recently Rav Elyashiv it would be much more satisfying if I could explain the chiluk myself however it is not necessary for the bottom line when we have the testimony of choshuv gedolim who don’t have any personal negia that they confirmed Rav Chaim Kanievsky’s support for Eretz Hakodesh in spite of fully understanding the shayla. That being the case means Rav Chaim Kanievsky being fully aware of the psak from 100 years ago and from his holy shver Rav Elyashiv ztl from much more recent times still felt that this is a different shayla by definition. Checkmate.