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WHOM NOT TO VOTE FOR! Q. I'd like to please hear your take on whom to vote for in the elections, especially that BH this is my first time voting in Israel!! All the contradicting surveys and one-sided ads are confusing! A. Rav Zvi Yehuda Kook stressed that Israeli politics is G-dly, so I have no problem answering this common question on a Torani blog. Also, Free-Will is a G-d-given right and obligation, to "destine one's fate" (R. Soloveichik, Kol Dodi Dofek, 67), so I obviously don't tell others how to vote. But once not a few have already asked, a couple of personal words from experience and thoughts from chazal & Rav Kook which may be of help to others, mainly for whom NOT to vote: 1. I personally don't risk voting for parties that may WASTE your opportunity to vote and impact Am Yisrael. Voting is pragmatic, NOT educational, declarative nor symbolic. Classrooms, bumper stickers, mutually respecting debates, social media etc. are good for such declarations, so even if I totally most agree with a party which may not pass the minimum, I won't vote for them (what actually convinced me to publicize this answer is some rabbis whom I greatly respect, wrote the opposite, but I definitely agree with the other rabbis whom I greatly respect, who disagree on this one). Young people often have a tendency to make this mistake ONCE, and then they learn, so it's worth helping them learn beforehand! Also, don't trust early or individual surveys which are often politically slanted, but get the general picture from all the surveys together, whom may throw-away your valuable vote. 2. Similarly, experience shows to be wary of "EXTREME" parties who are consciously divisive & deriding. The Rambam writes that the "middle-way" does not just make practical sense, but is actually G-dly, learning it from " go in His ways" (Dvarim 28, 9; De'ot 1, 4-5; see also Rav Kook, Orot, p. 153). He created all ideologies and truths, and we should them take ALL into account (see next point). Yes, in any given election, there may be one particular burning issue, but you can always find a party who is cooperative (especially in our coalition system, knowing how to make the necessary concessions without sacrificing the main point), in order to pragmatically implement that certain idea while not neglecting the many other important issues. Extreme parties (especially attractive to young people who want to instantly "change the world") tend to be more declarative than pragmatic, and often waste valuable votes and time on PR, working the press and cheap attention-getters, rather than pragmatically knowing how to quietly WORK WITH OTHERS. It's better to accomplish 80% rather than 0 or 10%, and "speak less but do a lot" (Avot 1, 15), which our sages teach are to a certain extent, mutually exclusive of each other. Part of the beauty & truth of DEMOCRACY is based upon "The voice of the masses is the voice of G-d" (rishonim, based on Mishlei 3, 4), so if one is generally seen by the people (not just by the press!) as extreme, be cautious. 3. Accordingly, I generally prefer more wholesome parties who are connected with the many various ideologies. Rav Kook stresses (Igrot 18 & 79; Orot, 152) that people aren't stupid, and each party has a certain amount of truth. Followers join a party for the truth they have, and not for their falsehood. Rav Kook's HOLISTIC approach sees everything as a "package-deal", to strengthen the ENTIRE Torah (rather than parties who are more "one or two issue" parties, who also tend to be more extreme): also AM Yisrael (security-wise, IDF service especially battle-units; pro-active offensive & pre-emptive attacks, not just defensive, preferring our soldiers & citizens over enemy human-shields, Aliya, unity …), also ERETZ Yisrael (security, IDF, Aliya, settling & economy,) as well as TORAT Yisrael (wholesome yeshivot, mechinot & midrashot who learn the "broad Torah" not just Talmud; education- including the oft-ignored but essential youth movements and field-schools; making the necessary balancing in the legal system to strengthen the people's parliament (which is generally pretty traditional and religious) and weaken the generally anti-religious & anti-democratic(!) monopoly on the court system (run by the previous strong-holders but outdated minority). This balancing is another benefit of democracy. 4. The way the Israeli coalition system is built, there is no obligation to vote for the largest party who will davka produce the Prime Minister. To the contrary, smaller parties often can and do produce more pressure than the larger parties which are more "one-man shows" who davka must cater to their coalition partners. 5. Accordingly, while I don't suggest wasting votes on declarative parties, I also don't try playing "הפוך על הפוך", trying to speculate or use "reverse psychology", guessing what the general outcome of each party and/or bloc will be, and changing my vote accordingly. Experience shows this is generally futile, for there are so many surprises on election day, which the surveys don't know ahead of time, and we don't have prophecy (often the largest party cannot assemble a coalition). I prefer just to vote, as above, for the party which most represents and can practically implement my ideology pragmatically which will surely pass the minimum bar and get into the holy Knesset. 6. Regarding many friends and students who haven't yet made Aliya: Rather than complain and criticize Israel & our politics, come join us and vote! "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem". 7. Most important, I started davening already now that Hashem should bless us with internal Shalom & the best possible government, because often individual occurrences can significantly influence the way many people will vote (e.g. the Hamas attack & miracles on the hijacked FlyDubai plane definitely strengthened the more traditional votes, and surely weakened those parties who see conceding to Arab terrorism and a two-state solution as realistic options). שנשמע בשורות טובות, ישועות ונחמות! Shabbat Shalom, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)
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Rabbi Ari Shvat

Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.
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  • "FIRST 'THE NATIONS WILL SAY: 'G-D DID GREAT FOR [ISRAEL]' "
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    "FIRST 'THE NATIONS WILL SAY: 'G-D DID GREAT FOR [ISRAEL]' "

    Iyar 5786
  • Rav Kook's Innovative Approach to the Sins of our Biblical Fathers.
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    Rav Kook's Innovative Approach to the Sins of our Biblical Fathers.

    Ayn Aya, Shabbat v, 44

    20 Sivan 5784
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