The news
and the airways have been saturated with commercials about various candidates
from the president down to the local races.
After a very long and drown out campaign we are asked to fulfill one of
our most important civic responsibilities: to vote. Yes, we have a responsibility to vote as an
American, but is there a Jewish imperative to vote?! Our tradition emphatically cries out YES!
Leaders
can be above the law
The Torah
teaches that we should be cognizant that our leaders might try and be above the
law. We are warned that a monarch could
keep many horses and send our people back to the land of Egypt, in order to
further his own wealth. We are taught: the
leader of the people should always have a copy of the Torah nearby in order
that “[the leader] will not act haughtily toward our fellows or deviate from
the Instruction to the right or to the left.”[i] The Torah reminds us that our leaders can be fallible. As citizens we must make sure they focus on
their responsibilities to better our country and not line their own pockets.
Making
our voice heard
Throughout
our history, the prophets and leaders of our people have stood up to speak out
against injustice. These great leaders
remind us that when someone is in need, when our community is challenged by
misfortune, when discrimination occurs, we can’t remain silent! Judaism is based upon a prophetic tradition
that cares deeply about the society of which we are a part. We Jews have always felt an obligation to
care for the broader society around us.
The best way to make our voice heard and to perfect our society, is to
vote!
We didn’t
always have a voice
For many generations, our ancestors were
not viewed as full citizens of the countries that they were a part. The United States has welcomed us with open arms
and encouraged us to share our gifts and our talents. The Rav, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, teaches that
we have an obligation to show our appreciation for this sense of openness:
“A fundamental principle of Yiddishkeit (Jewish culture) is Hakarat
Hatov – recognizing benefits accorded to us and giving expression to our
appreciation. Therefore, it is incumbent upon each Jewish citizen to
participate in the democratic system which affords us the freedoms we enjoy.
The most fundamental responsibility incumbent on each individual is to register
and vote.”
As Jews,
we didn’t always receive the freedom to vote and be part of the democratic
system. We can’t ignore this incredible
gift and must fully appreciate this right by registering to vote and making our
voice heard.
Voting is
an Obligation
As Jews,
there are many obligations, mitzvot, that
are incumbent to follow. There are ethical
and moral laws and there is religious practice as well. The Hazon Ish, Rav Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz,
once shared a story that a member of his community was unable to vote because
he didn’t possess the necessary funds to pay his taxes. The Hazon Ish told the man that he must sell
his t’fillin, a religious item used
in prayer, to pay his taxes. The Hazon
Ish reminded him: “T’fillin you can borrow from another, but the right
to vote – you cannot get from someone else.”
As we prepare for election day on Tuesday November 8th, may
we recognize the moral and ethical imperative to vote. Our vote keeps our leaders in check. Our vote allows our voice to be heard. May we vote and do so proudly as an American
and as Jew!
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