Comments on: Reflections On The Elections

By: Baruch

Baruch — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 22:04:56 +0000

Very disappointed in the article. Better to stay not involved than to disparage gedolim. What exactly is this article trying to accomplish anyway?

By: not anonymous

not anonymous — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 21:57:31 +0000

10 ME think you are right!!

In most cases you vote by feeling, when that person makes you feel secure, comfortable and trusting…you place the paper in the slot. This is the beginning of a ‘small spring’(uprising) in the Charedi world, the frum torah yidden of today’s Eretz Yisroel are not the same tapestry as those of Rav Shach’s day.

By: Avi Gordon

Avi Gordon — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 21:56:40 +0000

Perhaps to ask for some clarity here: what if a yid follows the Brisker or Satmar derech not to participate in elections? Is he going against daas Torah? What if he is dati leumi? Is he forbidden from following a dati leumi rav?

By: lebidik yankel

lebidik yankel — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 19:12:08 +0000

As someone from Israel I’d like to share my small perspective: People of Rabbi Shteinman’s type voted for him, and people of Rabbi Aurbach’s type voted for him. It was not about following THE gadol, but about following the rav that is your own style and type. I noticed people who never exchanged a word with Rabbi Aurbach voting for him, and so too for those voting gimmel. Its different strokes for different folks. Those of a different beat finally have a drummer. Its not about who is THE gadol at all, Me thinks.

By: ultra modox

ultra modox — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 18:37:13 +0000

“It is ridiculous that yungerleit should be thrown out of kollelim for voting for a party started by Maran Reb Shmuel. It is primitive and ridiculous that kollelim students, teachers and Rabbonim should be made to sign a document that they will only vote for Gimmel, that they won’t read Hapeles, etc.”
I’m not sure who you are, but I am pretty sure that you are not even close to the madrega of any of these gedolim (just from reading the article) and therefore when you say that doing what Rav Shteinman and Rav Chaim said to do is “ridiculous,” you are playing with fire and you should be very VERY careful.

By: pinnym

pinnym — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 18:13:10 +0000

this is a very good article. kol hakavod to the author.
ag1983,A concerned Jew : every person has a right to deside who his godol is as long as he is take a godol – harav elyashiv made all his decisions after talking with r’ shmuel shlita, he was involved in matters pertaining to the godol hador for the last 18 years, just a little behind the scenes, and if r’ elyashiv held/relied on him so can we.

By: OihaveYisroel

OihaveYisroel — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 17:40:31 +0000

#’s 3 & 4 seem to forget b’derech she’adam rotzeh l’haloch molichim oso. Those of who chose to live in Eretz Yisrael to be able to raise our level of Asias Mitzvos and limud Torah did so because we wanted to, certainly more than those who CHOOSE to live in Chu”l.
It seems that we all forget that we have been a somewhat dysfunctional family throughout our history (learn Chumash and Navie). Unfortunately when these activities become public knowledge we are M’challel Shem Shamayim no matter who is behind them.

By: A concerned Jew

A concerned Jew — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 16:18:53 +0000

Little concerned that this article is so focused on Maran Harosh Yeshiva Rav Shmuel Aurbach and how indeed he is a great man.No one disputes this.
But Rabbi Krakowski must take into account that until a month ago most people have never really heard of Reb Aurbach’s Shlita stance on any of the major situations affecting Klal Yisrael.And as ag1983 writes so clearly,we must have one leader deciding these major decisions which until now has always been the domain of Hageonim Reb Aharon Shteinman and Reb Chaim Kanievsky Shlita.
Remember,these are serious issues and we cannot afford power or Kavod struggles.We especially cannot afford that every time a Rosh Yeshiva has an argument with the majority,that a new party must be made to defend his honor.Otherwise,we will have so many parties that we will not get anywhere!!But I do agree with Rabbi Krakowski’s ending paragraph that we need Achdus and may it come soon.

By: anIsraeliYid

anIsraeliYid — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 16:18:18 +0000

The current lack of Derech Eretz between Chareidim of different views is a direct outgrowth of the lack of Chareidi Derech Eretz to non-Chareidi Jews – even those who are Shomer Torah uMitzvos. The chickens have come home to roost…

an Israeli Yid

By: not anonymous

not anonymous — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 16:07:03 +0000

Those of us who choose to live in Eretz Yisroel are undoubtedly those who most yearn for our parental reconciliation. –

These words hit me between the eyes for their insensitivity, lack of awareness and self-righteousness. Your article describing the dysfunctional family is right on target, just do not believe it just began now. It started many years back.

#2 Re hashkafa issues there is not a halacha to abide by a Gadol or the Gadol as you posted. There have always been difference of ‘derech’ to accomplish a goal. Re halachic issues, Bnei Brak and Yerushalayim have had differences of opinions since the Chazon Ish and Rav SZ Auverbach days.