NGO To Ask Elections Committee To Warn Haredi Parties About Trading Rabbinic Blessings And Amulets For Votes

Israeli law prohibits anyone from promising spiritual reward, blessings, health, or wealth in exchange for voting for a particular political party or threatening spiritual harm, excommunication, early death or other maladies if the wrong party is voted for. The law also prohibits parties from giving supporters amulets, written blessings from rabbinic leaders and the like in exchange for votes or to lure votes. But that law is frequently – and successfully – violated by haredi political parties

Above: a kabbalistic amulet

NGO To Ask Elections Committee To Warn Haredi Parties About Trading Rabbinic Blessings And Amulets For Votes
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com

Israeli law prohibits anyone from promising spiritual reward, blessings, health, or wealth in exchange for voting for a particular political party or threatening spiritual harm, excommunication, early death or other maladies if the wrong party is voted for. The law also prohibits parties from giving supporters amulets, written blessings from rabbinic leaders and the like in exchange for votes or to lure votes.

But that law is frequently– and successfully –violated by haredi political parties who exploit naive followers who believe senior haredi rabbis’ words have special divine import.

Threats of eternal damnation and lures of amulets and blessings help keep haredi voters loyal, and in the case of the Sefardi haredi Shas Party helped give it many votes from non-haredi Sefardim.

The process of filing a complaint about these election law violations and waiting for the almost toothless elections committee to rule on them can take days, and in Israel’s extremely short campaign cycle that means that violators of the law almost always benefit from their violations.

So Hiddush – the nonprofit that advocates for the freedom of and from religion, and which has frequently complained to Israel’s High Court and to election authorities about these violations – will ask Israel’s Central Elections Committee tomorrow to warn all political parties about the ban now before the upcoming election, the Jerusalem Post reported.

In theory, this should mean that haredi political parties won’t be able to claim their violations are accidental, and that would (again in theory) up the tiny monetary amount of the fines somewhat.

But law or no law, enforcement or not, unless haredi votes are voided due to these violations it is unlikely haredi political parties and their proxies will stop trading blessings, amulets and religious charms for votes, or will stop threatening those who vote for the wrong party with eternal damnation and early death.

Comments

[Malka]

Only in Israel!

[H]

Not really.
Unfortunately, wherever you find religion, you find crooks.
They prey on the weak and gullible, and those desperate for hope.

[S M L]

Not only in Israel. Remember the selling of Papal indulgences? Not so much different. Extreme religion breeds this sort of thing. Pitiful.

[jake]

כך זה בארץ

And political promises are?

[JACK]

And political promises are?

Posted by: jake
======================================
that was brilliant.:)
thanks

[JACK]

And political promises are?

Posted by: jake |
=========================================
Difference could be,that politicians promises everyone without exception knows it"s BS, but blessings and amulets a large percentage of ignorant and foolish people believe in them, and therefore it could be considered a bribe

[nachos]

Jack:
Since only religious people like yourself believe in blessings and amulets, I find it ironic that you called them foolish.

Next thing you know, you will start protesting that Hassidim should serve in the army and get an education. I don't think this would happen because you don't strike me as a brave person. Are you going to answer the question I left you under the holiday post?

[Sarek]

Hmmm. Last election I voted for people who lost, and I said, "damn!"

I guess I voted for the wrong party and was eternally damned?

[JACK]

nachos,
i hate to burst your hateful bubble,but for your information,most religious frum jews do not believe in amulets and blessings and other superstitions,and neither do i,and yes i absolutely believe that everyone without exception should serve in the Army to help defend their own people and country.

what was your question you left for me? (cant find it)

[Maskil]

What's weirder, that Israeli secular law banned amulets as political propaganda, of that a progressive group like Hiddush is leading the fight to have these anti-witchcraft laws strictly applied?

Fear early death or fear the "power" of the amulets!