Rabbis call on US Jews to vote

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B"H

Agudath Israel asking Jews to vote? Agudath Israel asking Jews to vote with Israel in mind??

Wow.

They were founded on anti-Zionism. Thank G-d they have started to recognize the importance of Israel to the existence of Jews. Good for them!!

As they say, it is incumbent upon all of us to recognize our rights to vote, to show our patriotism, and to use our status in galut to the best we can and vote for those candidates who believe in Israel and refuse to surrender to Islamic terror.

M

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Council of Torah Sages of Agudath Israel of America issues manifesto calling on ultra-Orthodox public to vote in presidential elections. Campaign includes leaflets, synagogue sermons and telephone calls from volunteers

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3498489,00.html
Neta Sela
Published: 01.24.08, 19:15 / Israel Jewish Scene

The Council of Torah Sages of Agudath Israel of America has called on the ultra-Orthodox public living in the United States to take part in the presidential elections, regardless of who they plan to vote for.

"For the first time," according to a manifesto issued by the Council, "we must take care of the interests of our brothers in Israel. In the past we have already witnessed the great achievements reached by US Jews, with the help of God, with their election power."

The importance of taking part in the elections lies, according to the rabbis, in the Unites States' important role after tying its fate to the State of Israel.

"The Providence these days has placed the United States as the main nation caring for the people living in Zion and seeking to rescue it from the "the 70 wolves" standing around it to destroy it, God will have mercy," the manifesto said.

The rabbis believe that taking part in the elections is also important because of the gratitude the Jews must feel towards the US government.

"This is also a matter of gratitude, which is one of the basic values of religion, and we must express our respect towards this kingdom of grace where we live by taking part in the elections," they explained.

The rabbis ended the manifesto with the hope that the election results would be in favor of the Jewish interests.

The Hamodia newspaper on Thursday presented the most important principles for the haredi community in the US, as well as why it is important to vote, according to Rabbi Yehiel Kalish, national director of government affairs of Agudath Israel of America.

"The simple reality is that the government officials check which groups voted, and often take stances on important current affairs according to that. We must guaranteeing political support in terms of the issues which deeply influence us – guaranteeing the safety and wellbeing of our brothers in Israel, the war on anti-Semitism across the world, increasing the governmental aid to our educational institutions, strengthening society's moral climate, improving the quality of the governmental offices in our neighborhoods, protecting our communities and institutions against terrorism."

Sermons in Florida and Ohio
According to Agudath Israel of America, taking part in the elections is "one of the most important things which can be done."

Ahead of the primary elections, the organization's efforts swung into high gear in a bid to cause the ultra-Orthodox public to go out and vote.

In Florida and Ohio, where the primaries will be held on Tuesday, synagogue rabbis were asked to speak about the importance of voting during their sermons. Manifests calling on the haredi community to vote were hung across the Jewish neighborhoods, leaflets were distributed and electronic messages were sent. In addition, volunteers were recruited to telephone potential haredi voters and remind them to cast their vote on the day of the primaries.

In the state of Michigan, where the elections were held last week, rabbis launched a campaign encouraging the voters. Additional efforts were made by rabbis in New York, New Jersey, Illinois and other states, to encourage the ultra-Orthodox public to vote in the primary elections which will be held there in about two weeks.

Similar campaigns were launched by Agudath Israel in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Texas, and in other states where large numbers of haredi families reside.