AAs election day draws near (the 19th Knesset is scheduled to be elected Tuesday 11 Shvat/January 22) events have been held all over the country in chareidi community to try to impress upon people the importance of the upcoming election. On Tuesday a Kol Korei was issued signed by 28 rabbonim, roshei yeshiva and admorim. Also a short expression of support was published that was signed by 56 roshei yeshiva , and a long letter of support was released by HaRav Mordechai Gross. In addition, boxes appear daily announcing that various chassidic admorim expressed their support for United Torah Judaism.
Maran the Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Shteinman issued a special horo'as sho'oh ruling that, "voting for Yahadus HaTorah - Gimmel, is like executing a Yisochor-Zevulun agreement with the Torah world." In view of the danger that threatens the Torah world, a vote for UTJ, which is the only way to deal with the basic denial of the right to exist from the Torah world, makes one a full partner in the zchus of the existence of the Torah world.
For a taste of what is going on, we are publishing an account of the event held in Modi'in Illit.
Modi'in Illit has not seen such a momentous event for years. Thousands of residents rallied in unity to bolster the United Torah Jewry party in anticipation of the upcoming elections. The event was presided by Torah leaders, roshei yeshiva, the incumbent candidates themselves and other public figures who had gathered in response to HaRav Shteinman's cry emanating from the depths of his heart: "Every Jew has the rare opportunity to sanctify Hashem's name in public by voting at the polls."
The Neot Hasimcha auditorium was packed to bursting long before the designated time, while huge throngs filled the adjoining streets in eager anticipation of the arrival of the esteemed gedolei Yisroel who made a supreme effort to come in order to arouse the people regarding their obligation to work for the success of the party in order to stem the terrible decrees proposed by the enemies of chareidi Jewry as a whole.
The public meeting was opened by HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh Yeshivas Slobodka, who read aloud the letter of the late HaRav Aharon Kotler stressing the sacred obligation of every devout Jew to come and vote, and to work for the success of the party.
"It was written in the time of HaRav Aharon but it is all the more true today that the threats facing us regarding religious practice are greater. How much more must we work for the party's victory through increasing the power of our bnei Torah representatives, aside from prayer and general support for its success." He added, "If the government sees that the public is not standing full force behind the Torah party, they will conclude that we are not united and subservient [to our leadership] and will attempt to draft yeshiva students."
HaRav Arye Finkel, Rosh Yeshivas Mir, fervently noted that in this election campaign, the Rosh Yeshiva coined a new concept which he termed, "To fight for our souls," a cry which everyone can understand, since the act of voting and working for the elections are vital for victory in the battle and can be termed as a fight for survival.
See also the letter issued by HaRav Nissim Karelitz .
