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Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Day 13 - For Whom Can Jews Vote? No One!

Rabbi Yehuda Levin, of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the U.S. and Canada, recently issued a statement regarding today's election as well as any future ones (italics mine):

It is very important for our community to demonstrate its appreciation for our wonderful country by exercising our civic obligation to vote. However, it is even more important that we do not support any candidate whose position is in any way antithetical to our Torah based morality. Candidates who support abortion on demand, the “toeiva” agenda, liberal attitudes towards pornography of any sort - are antithetical to our way of life and it is forbidden to support or vote for them.

Our former president, internationally acknowledged as the premier legal decisor, Rabbi Moshe Feinstien was most vigorous in condemning abortion on demand and the “toeiva” agenda and we take his legacy as our guide.

If one has to vote in an election or primary where both candidates are anti-Biblical family values, G-d forbid, that they use the “lesser of two evils” approach. Rather, let the voter cast a write-in protest vote, but do not compromise by voting for the “lesser evil”. If we value the purity and holiness of our children and grandchildren, we dare not compromise.

It is our sincere hope that not only our own Jewish community, but our fellow citizens of all faiths, and their leaders, will draw a line in the sand and institute policies forbidding voting for anti-traditional family- values candidates. We are confident that were this policy instituted, within one or two election cycles, we would find many more pro-family candidates on every level of government.


After having reading this ridiculous statement and while writing my response, I came across The Wolf's reaction to it, and since he said what I was going to say, only better, I have included his response here:

OK, my question is as follows:

Since freedom of religion is antithetical to Torah-based morality (after all, Avoda Zara [idol worship] is forbidden even to non-Jews according to halacha), just whom are we to vote for? I don't think any candidate favors restricting the worship of any deity except the Jewish Deity. As such, they are *all* have positions that are antithetical to our Torah-based morality and hence, according to the proclamation by Rabbi Levin, it is forbidden to vote for any of them. So, stay home everyone!*

*I'm kidding. Go out and vote.

The Wolf really hit the jackpot here. Let's all ignore Rabbi Yehuda Levin. His foolish words speak for themselves.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Vote for Freedom
Vote for Fairness
Vote for Faith

Vote Feifel!
Vote Feifel!

Tzvi Feifel said...

If you insist...

Anonymous said...

1. do you not like chopin?

2. i request to read your thoughts about abortion and love

this blog thing is really great, but don't forget to sleep at night...:)

Tzvi Feifel said...

Jessica -

Chopin? No, I don't really have an affinity for his music. How'd you know?

And I can post on Love. Keep your eyes open.

And thanks for the sleep advice, however improbable it seems - you sound like my mom and grandama, btw :)

Anonymous said...

haha oh thanks, i guess i'm on the right track then. i love chopin. most piano aficionados like chopin, so i thought it was unusual when you didn't list him on facebook. so why not post anything about abortion? i really disagree with judaism's standpoint about it. it would make for good debate.

Tzvi Feifel said...

Yeah - I dunno, I've just never fallen for his music. A few of his pieces I enjoy like his fantasie impromptu (duh!) and his first Ballade and his prelude in C minor. And I admittedly havent listed to that much of his music - but in general I don't like his music as much as other composers.

And I'll post on abortion once I finishin refining my position on the issue.

Tzvi Feifel said...

Jessica - I have changed my mind. I am really starting to warm up to Chopin's music...

Anonymous said...

So what position do you take on abortion?

Tzvi Feifel said...

yoyo-

I'm not sure yet.