A heated discussion over Chareidi voting patterns erupted on an Israeli current affairs program after journalist Ari Kalman argued that the identity of United Torah Judaism’s individual candidates is largely irrelevant to its voters, declaring that the party could put “four monkeys” on its slate and still win seven Knesset seats.
Speaking during a discussion on Kikar HaShabbat’s “Kipot Shchorot” program, Kalman said Chareidi voters cast their ballots based primarily on adherence to the instructions of their rabbonim rather than their personal opinions of the politicians appearing on the ballot.
“This is the beautiful thing about the Chareidi public, that it votes for an idea. To do what the rabbis tell us, even if we don’t understand them,” Kalman said.
Kalman maintained that voters supporting UTJ are therefore not making their decision based on the identities or placement of individual candidates on the party slate.
“We don’t vote because Gafni is number one and Yaakov Asher is number three. Put four monkeys there — and they will still get seven seats,” he said.
Kalman’s remarks sparked a sharp response from fellow panelist Yaakov Wieder, who challenged the notion that Chareidi political representatives themselves consistently follow rabbinic guidance once they are in office.
Wieder focused particularly on municipal politics, arguing that Chareidi political operatives invoke rabbinic authority when seeking votes while making many of their everyday political and financial decisions independently.
“The budget of the mayor of Bnei Brak, 3,000 shekels a day, did he receive approval from a rabbi? Probably not,” Wieder said.
He then leveled a broader accusation at Chareidi political operatives: “They make use of a rabbi once every four years.”
During the discussion, Netanel Isaac described Wieder as a “trailblazer” who has been subjected to “political lynchings” over his positions.
Wieder argued that Chareidi voters are conditioned from a young age to view political obedience through stark religious terms, describing a system of pressure in which voting choices can become associated with concepts of Gan Eden and Gehinnom.
He maintained that this dynamic should be separated from municipal elections, where he argued that residents should focus on the performance of local officials and whether those representatives are serving their constituents.
“Voting, especially for a municipality, is voting for whoever works for you, for whoever does not harm you,” Wieder said.
The contentious exchange aired on “Kipot Shchorot,” Kikar HaShabbat’s program hosted by Yossi Sargovsky, with the debate over rabbinic authority, political operatives and the voting habits of the Chareidi community generating considerable discussion online.
{Matzav.com}
