Elections

Elections are a democratic method for appointing officials, in a way that allows all concerned parties to influence the appointment process by voting for a candidate or a list of candidates. Today, the election process is commonly used to appoint leaders and legislative bodies. The Rebbes of Chabad encouraged participation in elections. The Rebbe sent letters and telegrams expressing the obligation of every person to vote in elections for the Knesset and local authorities in the Holy Land.

As a policy, the Rebbe opposed active involvement of Chabad Chassidim in politics, even when the goal was to gain influence for the benefit of Judaism and fear of Heaven. He instructed to vote in Knesset elections and local elections in Israel for "the most Charedi party," while the Rebbe himself worked and influenced the establishment of a united religious front in Knesset elections. In later years, he directed Chabad communities to consult with community activists to decide on running Chabad representatives in municipal elections.

The Rebbe's Approach Regarding Elections

In Knesset elections and local elections in Israel, the Rebbe viewed voting as something through which a Jew can have influence, emphasizing that participation in elections does not constitute interference in politics but rather a step that positively influences the Jewish people both materially and spiritually. The Rebbe clarified that elections should not be seen as a fateful act, where the outcome depends solely on those who participate in them. The Rebbe further clarified that we need to know and remember that the "key" is with the Jewish people, and therefore, there is no reason to be overwhelmed by all these matters, as it depends only on the Jewish people. Even when he explained to someone that it is obligatory to participate in elections, the Rebbe emphasized that "in any case, one should divert his attention from matters of politics."

Elections in Russia

Main article: Purim 5713

In a Purim farbrengen of 5713 (1953), the Rebbe related that during the revolution in Russia after the downfall of the Czar, the Rebbe Rashab instructed Chassidim to participate in the elections held in the country. The Rebbe recounted that one of the Chassidim who was completely detached from worldly affairs and had no knowledge of what was happening in the country also came to the polling place, for he needed to fulfill the Rebbe's instruction, and of course, after first immersing in the mikvah and girding himself with a gartel, as befitting the fulfillment of a Rebbe's instruction. After doing what needed to be done for the election, as his friends had instructed him, he saw people standing and shouting words of encouragement, "Hurrah," so he also stood and proclaimed: "Hu-rah, Hu-rah, Hu-rah..."

Elections for Rabbinical Assemblies

Petersburg Conference of 5608 (1848)

Towards the year 5608 (1848), the Russian Ministry of Interior decided to establish a new assembly, and unlike the assembly in the year 5603 (1843), when the rabbis were chosen by the Ministry of Interior, in these elections they determined that the representatives would be elected through general elections among all the Jews of Russia, and whoever would be elected would be a candidate to participate in the assembly. On the 15th of Shevat 5608 (1848), a police official delivered to the Tzemach Tzedek a notice requesting him to run in the elections. The Tzemach Tzedek responded by sending a letter to the Ministry of Interior stating that he did not want to run in the elections, and after the Ministry of Interior did not agree to this, the Tzemach Tzedek sent a medical letter stating that matters causing him excitement, as in this case, could harm his health condition, and indeed ultimately the Tzemach Tzedek did not run in the elections.

Thanks to the Tzemach Tzedek's campaign, out of 32 delegates, 26 were elected who were Charedi Jews, and only 6 delegates were maskilim (enlightened Jews). Despite the overwhelming victory for the Charedi, the Minister of Interior chose from among them only 2 Charedi delegates for the Rabbinical Assembly and 4 maskilim delegates for the Rabbinical Assembly. The six elected to the assembly were: the chairman of the assembly Eliezer Lipshitz, two scholars Mr. Vorbil and Mr. Eichenbaum, the merchant Bernstein from Odessa, the merchant Goldberg from Bielist, and the merchant Beshkovitz from Vitebsk.

Rabbinical Assembly of 5670 (1910)

At the end of 5669 (1909), the government divided the territory of Russia into forty-two districts and announced elections that would be held at the beginning of the winter of 5670 (1910), in which Jewish residents would elect their preferred candidate for the Rabbinical Assembly.

The Rebbe Rashab conducted an extensive election campaign and sent representatives to the towns of Russia to encourage residents to elect religious rabbis as representatives, and he published a 'call to action' regarding the elections. In order to prevent the loss of votes, and based on what was agreed upon at the assembly in Vilna, in each district only one rabbi from the religious rabbis ran, and the results were satisfactory.

US Elections and Community Elections in Crown Heights

Elections for the Community Council in Crown Heights

Every few years, elections are held for the Community Council in the Crown Heights neighborhood. The Rebbe dedicated many talks, letters, and references to these elections as well.

The Rebbe asked the residents of the neighborhood to come and influence who would represent the public according to their preference. The Rebbe emphasized that the elections do not contradict unity and love of fellow Jews, since every Jew has a portion both in the World to Come and in this world. Each voter indicates who they think is more suitable to fulfill the role of 'chairman' and who will successfully fulfill the role of treasurer, etc. The Rebbe said that all calculations why not to come and vote (it's beneath my dignity, there are more important matters, etc.) come from the 'left void' (the evil inclination). The Rebbe also gave many instructions about how the elections should be conducted. In the year 5746 (1986), the Rebbe announced that he would give a 'mitzvah mission' for charity to everyone who came to vote in the elections. The Rebbe requested that there be a charity box next to the mezuzah at the ballot box, so that each person leaving could give charity.

Elections for the Crown Heights Beis Din Tzedek

Extended article – Crown Heights Beis Din Tzedek

About a year after the passing of Rabbi Zalman Shimon Dvorkin on 19 Adar 5745 (1985), the members of the Crown Heights Community Council asked the Rebbe to appoint a new rabbi. The Rebbe's response was, "This obviously belongs to the decision of the Jewish residents of the neighborhood." Following this, a committee for elections called the "Representatives" organization was established in the neighborhood, to which one representative from each synagogue in the neighborhood was sent, and Rabbi Eliezer Zirkind was appointed as its head.

While the Representatives committee was busy preparing for the elections, the members of Agudas Chassidei Chabad decided to appoint a rabbi chosen by them and wrote about this to the Rebbe. The response was: "There have been many meetings on this matter - with representatives of many synagogues in the neighborhood and its institutions, and what is this sudden Agudas Chassidei Chabad world organization??" After such a clear response from the Rebbe and another harsh response, this attempted interference was dropped, and indeed on 1 Nissan 5746 (1986), the Representatives committee published the election details with the candidates being: Rabbi Avraham Osdoba, Rabbi Mordechai Dov Altein, Rabbi David Chanzin, Rabbi Shalom Marozov, and Rabbi Yehuda Kalman Marlow.

On 4 Nissan, the elections were held in the women's section of 770, and 90% of the neighborhood residents came and voted for three rabbis: Rabbi David Chanzin, Rabbi Yehuda Kalman Marlow, and Rabbi Avraham Osdoba.

But in practice, when Rabbi David Chanzin wrote about his appointment, the Rebbe instructed him to continue his rabbinical position in Petach Tikvah and his role in the Ohali Yosef Yitzchak network and the Committee of Chabad Rabbis in the Holy Land. In light of the Rebbe's response, the Representatives committee announced the Rebbe's answer and the election of a third rabbi after Passover. After this announcement, those who did not view the elections favorably began to mock the election committee, saying that the committee had not checked the candidates before publishing them. The committee chairman, Rabbi Eliezer Zirkind, wrote to the Rebbe about the mockers, and the Rebbe replied, "The Alter Rebbe has already silenced them at the beginning of his Shulchan Aruch. He can add - it is written in the books that mockery (leig) has the same letters as calf (eigel)." Thus, he encouraged him to conduct the elections for the third rabbi.

On 23 Nissan, the elections were held with the Rebbe's blessing, and Rabbi Yosef Avraham Heller was elected by a majority vote as the third rabbi in the Crown Heights neighborhood. The coronation ceremony itself took place on Friday, 27 Sivan, and the next day during the farbrengen, the Rebbe delivered a talk to the Chassidim in which he gave great strength and encouragement to the rabbis' status and called them with extraordinary titles. This positive attitude continued throughout the subsequent period, as the Rebbe backed every decision and ruling of the rabbis, and referred all halachic questions and disputes that arose among the Chassidim in Crown Heights to them.

Elections for 770 Synagogue Gabbaim

Extended article – 770 Synagogue Gabbaim

In 5747 (1987), after members of Agudas Chassidei Chabad pressured the gabbaim not to call up the neighborhood rabbis for an aliyah to the Torah (for the aliyah of the Ten Commandments) in Parshat Yitro, the Rebbe spoke about this in a talk and said that although he generally does not interfere in the work of the gabbaim, since this was done in his presence, it was his duty to protest, and asked that the rabbis "punish" the gabbaim and requested that it be done in ways of kindness. Immediately after the talk, one of the gabbaim resigned from his position, and another gabbai refused to apologize, after which the Rebbe stopped acknowledging him. After several months, he was forced to publicly ask for forgiveness in the Rebbe's presence, and only then did the Rebbe resume acknowledging him.

Afterwards, elections were held for the Community Council, in which the Rebbe was very involved, and in light of the episode from Shavuot, the neighborhood residents asked the rabbis to order new elections for gabbaim. Indeed, in the summer the elections were held, and several gabbaim were elected who immediately began serving as gabbaim in the place and for several weeks served as gabbaim and even called the Rebbe up to the Torah and more. At the same time, there was a dispute in the Crown Heights neighborhood, and after an accident in which a Chabad young man named Shmuel Chiterik was killed, the gabbaim decided to stop their activities as gabbaim.

General Elections in the USA

Usually when elections were held in the USA, the Rebbe voted by mail.

On 24 Cheshvan 5741 (1980), the day before the presidential elections in the United States, the Rebbe asked Rabbi Nissan Mindel who he was voting for, and his response was that he had not yet decided, and the Rebbe responded: I too have not yet decided. In those elections, the Rebbe instructed all those who had the right to vote - to vote in order to demonstrate Jewish power.

It is told that at that time, students of the Central Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva at 770 were in the vicinity of the polling station, and when the Rebbe arrived at 770, he entered the 'zal' and almost shouted: "How is it possible that in the middle of seder I met yeshiva students there?!"

Elections to the Knesset

Extended Article – Elections to the Knesset

Elections to the Knesset are the method of selecting Knesset members from each party and the factions that will serve in the Knesset of the State of Israel, which are directly influenced by the choices of the country's residents. The elections are conducted using a proportional electoral system based on the number of voters, and the number of seats each list receives in the Knesset is proportional to the number of voters who supported it (provided it passes the electoral threshold). Voters vote for a list and not for a specific person on the list, while the selection of members who will actually serve in the party is chosen in some parties through a direct election process by party members, whereas in Charedi parties, candidates are determined by their spiritual leaders.

The Halachic Decision Regarding Permission to Participate in Elections

The majority of Gedolei Yisroel, led by Rabbi Aharon of Belz, Rabbi Dov Berish Weidenfeld, the Beis Yisroel of Gur, and the Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz, instructed and even wrote a "Kol Koreh" [proclamation] to participate in Knesset elections in all election cycles and to vote for a Charedi party, beginning with the elections for the First Knesset in 5709 (1949), and so in all election cycles throughout the years until today, the vast majority of Admorim and Rabbis support voting in elections to influence matters both physically and spiritually and encourage voting. This is in contrast to the Rabbis of the Badatz of the Edah HaCharedis, the Admorim of Satmar and Toldos Aharon - who oppose elections and any cooperation with the elections, Knesset, and government of Israel.

The View of Chabad Rebbes - Vote to Influence

The Rebbe Rayatz and the Rebbe absolutely supported voting in the Knesset of Israel, in order to increase the good spiritual side and decrease the side that opposes spiritual matters. On this matter, there are many holy letters published in the series of Igros Kodesh. The Rebbe wrote that whoever does not vote in elections: "Not only that, but they harm the public, as mentioned above. Especially after seeing tangibly over the years that have passed - that the decision of one representative (deputy [Knesset member]) could have prevented matters that cause the public to stumble in rabbinic prohibitions and even in Torah prohibitions, and that suffices for the understanding."

Local Elections in Israel

Expanded article – Local Elections in Israel

According to the Rebbe's instructions, one should vote in the municipal and mayoral elections in Israel, and the obligation to vote in Knesset elections applies to these as well.

The Meaning of Elections in Divine Service

During a period when elections were held in several regions, the Rebbe wrote to Knesset member Yosef Burg about elections and their meaning in avodas Hashem. We learn from elections that although the voter is flesh and blood, the candidate tries to find favor in the voter's eyes, wholeheartedly and with full dedication, and will even exert effort and trouble himself just to be elected in practice. How much more so regarding Hakadosh Baruch Hu, as it was at the time of Matan Torah, it is only right to behave in the manner described - to find favor in the eyes of the voter and to be truly chosen. The Rebbe also adds that regarding a flesh and blood voter, the elected official must repay the voter, which is not the case regarding Hakadosh Baruch Hu, where He is the giver and the elected is the receiver, and what the elected needs to give to the voter is Torah study and fulfillment of mitzvos, which is also for the benefit of the elected.

Further Reading

• 10 Chabad Facts - The Rebbe's Opinion on Elections in the Holy Land, Beis Moshiach weekly magazine issue 1197 page 37

External Links

• On Pikuach Nefesh There Are No Compromises, interview with Rabbi Yosef Shmuel Gerlitzky, Chairman of the Rabbis Congress for Peace, Nissan 5781
• Daily Rebbe: Competition with Love, on the website.