Today I voted in the national elections for the 18th Knesset in Israel. Initially I was very torn. The religious parties feel that they should impose certain rules on the general public about keeping a Torah observant atmosphere. For example, they believe that in certain urban areas, all businesses should be closed on Shabbat. This is an idea I was uncomfortable with. I felt leary about forcing my own ideas on someone else. Do I think Shabbat observance is essential for every Jew? Of course. However, I did not think that I should impose that observance on every Jew, even against his or her will.
And then Ruby and I started talking. "Doesn't the Torah promote enforcing Shabbat observance for all Jews?" he asked. I conceded the point, but continued to say that that is in the ideal Torah world, within which we do not live. "How are we going to reach the ideal if we don't start promoting Torah values now? Should we just wait for Moshiach to come and then he will promote those values? Should we just sit back and wait?" I then realized that it is in our own hands to bring about the ideal Torah society. Just like our family did not wait to be borne on eagles' wings to the Promised Land, we should not wait to create a religious atmosphere in the Jewish Holy Land. The Jewish nation is one based on a set of Torah values. I do not believe in the concept of a secular Jewish state. So, I voted for one of the religious parties (there are 4 running).
I'm still to American to publicize which one I voted for, though. (Israelis are not private about it.)
I'm also American enough and a strong enough believer in the democratic process that when we went with the kids to pizza this afternoon (still searching for edible pizza in the YB area), I convinced the woman behind the counter to go vote. She wasn't planning to vote, because she didn't like any of the candidates for prime minister. Once I explained to her that you vote for political parties, not leaders, she decided that she would do that.
Grandpa and Savta are proud.
News and notes for family and friends as we "take the leap" and move to Israel
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Our Mailing Address:
Spolter Family
PO Box 467
Haslav 32a
Yad Binyamin, Israel
Our Phone Numbers
Israeli: 077-501-1327
American (direct dial from the US): 248-246-1545
Rena Cell: 052-712-1086
Reuven Cell: 052-712-1098
Our Email Addresses:
Abba: rspolter@gmail.com
Ima: rena@spolter.net
Simcha: Simspolt@gmail.com
Spolter Family
PO Box 467
Haslav 32a
Yad Binyamin, Israel
Our Phone Numbers
Israeli: 077-501-1327
American (direct dial from the US): 248-246-1545
Rena Cell: 052-712-1086
Reuven Cell: 052-712-1098
Our Email Addresses:
Abba: rspolter@gmail.com
Ima: rena@spolter.net
Simcha: Simspolt@gmail.com
1 comment:
Living in the U.S. I suppose I have no right to comment, but this is a blog... I don't think I could vote for a religious party for two reasons:
1) there's so much hatred between the religious and non-religious elements in Israel, and one reason for that is the way the coalition government system allows the religious parties to hold the other parties hostage. I think forcing the issue is counterproductive.
2) religious issues are such a tiny fraction of the issues a country - especially Israel - faces. What kind of political party is so narrowly focused that it doesn't have an economic policy? It's the same reason I wouldn't be able to vote for a "green" party in Europe.
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