Participation is Forbidden !

B"H

With a new Pakshivilim (news posters) hanging on the walls of Mea Shearim, the anti - Zionist umbrella organization "Edah HaCharedit" is announcing to its members and supporters:

"A participation in the local elections on November 11, 2008, is absolutely forbidden. We (the Edah) do not support a Zionist mayor of Jerusalem !"

Next Tuesday, the inhabitants of Jerusalem are electing a new mayor for their city. For the past few years, the litvishe Haredi Uri Lupolianski had been the mayor. He was a quiet mayor and we hardly heard about his decisions. Some say that he was too quiet. His predecessor Ehud Olmert was different, as we all know. He was famous for the tax waste for his own purposes and, most of the time, he travel to New York instead of ruling our city.

The most famous candidates for the upcoming elections are:

1. Nir Barkat - A secular politician and businessman.

2. Me'ir Porush - A Knesset member of the haredi party "Yahadut HaTorah".

3. Arcadi Gaydamak - An Russian - Israeli Billionaire who doesn't even live in Jerusalem and doesn’t know any Hebrew.

Gaydamak has almost no chance of being elected and this is why he is looking for his vote among the Palestinians in East Jerusalem. Abroad (e.g. in France), Gaydamak is a wanted figure, as he is accused of illegal deals with arms. In Israeli, the police is after him and accusing him of money laundering.

The best chances of getting elected has the secular Nir Barkat. People see him as an experienced person. He is a businessman and thus, would know how to run the city. And - he could be a mayor for all inhabitants. Even the Gerrer Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, is said to have met with Barkat and may have promised the support of Chassidut Gur. Only because Gur refuses to support the third candidate Me'ir Porush.

Yesterday, haredi Internet forums claimed that Barkat would be anything but positive for the haredi population, as Nir Barkat hates the religious. He has proven so in the past and always was the first one in limiting the influence of the religious. Furthermore, he supports the Kadima party and therefore would agree with Zipi Livni dividing our capital.

As mentioned, the third candidate is Me'ir Porush. A Haredi and people see in him too much religion. Can a guy like this with a long white beard and long coat be a mayor for everybody ? Wouldn't he instantly close all clubs and shops which are open on Shabbat ? Can he be a mayor for the secular and the Palestinians as well ?
For the past few weeks, Porush has been running a big campaign but the Jerusalemites don't trust him too much. "Too haredi" - that's their opinion. On his election posters Porush promises thousands of new affordable apartments for young couples. He doesn't say how and for which young couples ? Only for the haredi population ?

And it is Me'ir Porush being THE most controversial figure. Not among the secular population but rather among his own society. The Gerrer Rebbe doesn't want him and so does the litvishe Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliyashiv. Porush tried to apologize for old disputes between them but hasn't succeeded. However, he does have the national religious, the Sephardi Haredim and Chassidut Belz behind him. Apparently the Belzer Rebbe Yissachar Dov Rokeach has signed an agreement with Porush and Belz will vote for him.

As usual, the members of the Edah HaCharedit are not participating in the elections. The Edah banned any participation in Zionist elections

There is a chance of getting a total haredi mayor and due to all kinds of personal disputes, chances are ruined at the same time. It looks like we have to put up with Nir Barkat who is even prepared to divide Jerusalem.

Why can't the Haredim just forget about their little quarrels, at least once, and do something together ?