Speaking with Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) host Razi Barkai on Monday, 8 Adar II, Beit Shemesh mayoral contender Eli Cohen expressed optimism. Cohen explains that “due to the awakening” in the city; he is confident the residents of the city will “awaken to a new mayor on Wednesday morning”.
Cohen spoke of the 1,000-1,400 fraudulent votes as per the Supreme Court and he feels that in an honest race he will emerge the victor. His interview followed that of Mayor Moshe Abutbul, who cited “the Supreme Court stated three times I was not responsible for the fraudulent voting”. Cohen concurred that the court did indeed say this, but he is not so quick to exonerate Abutbul, for he pointed out that “There was an address – the fraudulent actions were taking place in the chareidi community” and he feels that while the mayor was not held accountable by the court, his nonfeasance is the matter speaks for itself.
When asked why the two communities, the chareidim and the secular and dati leumi must be compelled to live together, Cohen stressed “There is a better way”.
The former senior Jewish Agency for Israel executive explained that in the Diaspora religious and non-religious Jews live together, including chareidim and he is confident the same can occur in Beit Shemesh. He explains that as mayor he can and will create a harmonious atmosphere in which the city will continue to flourish and does not agree with the accepted practice of segregation that exists in Israel today.
Cohen feels the entire matter is the work of “a small number of chareidi extremists” and he is certain that most of the chareidi tzibur is willing to live with the others in the same city without conflict. Cohen concluded with a special appeal to IDF soldiers, calling upon them to exercise their right and obligation to vote in the election.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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article written by Jonathan Stefansky and posted on his FB wall
16 hours ago
What I’ll be doing this election day.
Tomorrow marks the 2nd Beit Shemesh municipal elections , and like most residents, I really can’t wait for this to be over. Sure I’m pulling for my candidate (more about that later) but I will be extremely grateful when this color war – posters, slogans and songs will finally be over.
I love living in Beit Shemesh, but as any Beit Shemesh resident will tell you we live in a hick town, as I tell folks in the US I’m more afraid of a sheep bite than anything serious happening here. Unfortunately, the race for Mayor and city council has turned our hick town into the frontline of a “war” Not my words, see JPOST
“Feldman, the dean of the Ner Israel yeshiva in Baltimore and a member of the Council of Torah Sages in the US, said that a war to sanctify God’s name was taking place in the city, and that if the haredi community lost it would be “a great stain on every haredi Jew. Senior haredi MK Moshe Gafni painted the ballot in starker terms. “This is not an election campaign, it is war,” he told the assembled haredi crowd.”
Why is this a war? and why is the war being waged in Beit Shemesh?
There is a great battle going on between the haredi religious and national religious/non-religious in Israel and folks see Beit Shemesh as a litmus test for the future of this country.
So what am I doing tomorrow and who will I be voting for?
First off, Tomorrow morning I’ll be travelling to my Son’s Navy Base. In less than a year of service, he’s developed and deployed code for use on our state of the art ships. If I told you more than that I’d have to kill you! But the reason I’m going to his base is to celebrate his 2nd and 3rd Siyum (completion) of Talmud he’s made while in service. As a “American Chardei” or “Chardal”, pick your title of choice, I see him as a shining example of what being truly religious is all about. It’s living a life lead by Torah ideals which also includes a tremendous Hakarat HaTov (gratitude) to the great State of Israel and doing your part to serve as best as you possibly can.
Then I’ll be taking him home to complete his civic duty and vote in the election. I hope he’ll join me in voting for Eli Cohen. But wait Eli Cohen isn’t Charadei, how can we be voting for him?
The answer is simple, in consultation with my Rabbi, note the word consultation, I’m following his advice Vote for whoever you feel will be the best mayor for Beit Shemesh. I believe that Eli represents and aligns with my interests in the city. A city for ALL of beit shemesh, a clean city, a city that is open to business, a city that will build housing for the great multitudes of different people that beit shemesh represents and someone who will ensure we continue to live in Beit Shemesh and not “Bnei Brak”
I’ve spoken with some really good friends of mine who see this election revote as part of a big conspiracy against the Charediem. And a win by Eli Cohen would represent a big Chillul Hashem (desecration of G-ds name) because then people will say look the Charediem are all a bunch of cheaters.
To this I say , I’m not much of a conspiracy guy and don’t think the Supreme Court of Israel looked at that this case as an opportunity to “get” the Harediem. But more importantly what I say to these folks is the real “war” in Beit Shemesh is to keep Beit Shemesh’s character as a place for all and not become “Bnei Brak” Our fight should be to keep Beit Shemesh as a place welcoming and open to all.
As American “Charedi” Olim our part in this greater “War” should be the ones who are leading the charge that shows that a true “Charedi” religious outlook and lifestyle can be pared with the outside world, to bring light to the world.
We should be emulating people like my son who are serving this Amazing country while living a charedi lifestyle and showing his non religious colleagues what being a true ben torah is all about.
I pray for the future of our great city!