There has been some talk, since the court decision to hold new elections in Bet Shemesh, about what the extremist community will do in the upcoming elections. Will they go against their ideology and vote, as a one-time event, out of necessity to influence the election in favor of the haredim, or will they keep to their ideology and refuse to vote, even at risk of 'losing' the city?
I've heard arguments both ways.
Personally I have no interest in putting forth a guess on the matter.
I do want to comment that the entire question, or discussion, is premised on a faulty assumption. It indicates either a falsehood in the ideology or a loan of understanding.
If the ideology would be put aside, for one election only, out of need, if would prove that their is really no ideology being the behavior. It would show that they normally don't vote just because their vote is not important enough to make it worthwhile. As soon as their vote suddenly becomes more necessary the ideology goes out the window? . That's not ideology-that's convenience.
I believe they really do not vote out of ideological reasons, as much as I disagree with those reasons. I think giving that up now would be a tremendous disappointment. And worse, it would be a failure of their entire being and lifestyle. And I think even suggesting that they mint do so indicates a lack of understanding of who they are.
Not only that, but they are in essence as opposed to the haredi community as to the non-haredi. The satmar rebbe just said, regarding the coming law about drafting yeshiva students, that the haredim are at fault for this because they think they can participate in society and benefit from it without sharing in the responsibility. He stressed that they are opposed to the haredi community that takes part in the government as they are opposed to other zionists. Their, taking him at his word, which may or may not be a good thing, it's silly to assume they would find importance in helping the haredi community that they are just as much opposed to.
One more point....
In an editorial on Kikar Shabbat website, Yerucham Estraicher lays out these arguments explaining why it is important that this time they vote. Estraicher lays out the issues well. He touches on an issue I have avoided writing about, and will continue to avoid, for now. Estraicher makes one additional argument on which I would like to comment. In saying why it is crucial for the extremists to vote this time, he says this election requires their vote
in order to set the character or nature of the city.
Considering that these are the people, in large part, who have harmed the local haredi community the most, due to their extremism, Estraicher and other haredim should not want their assistance in seeing the character of the city. I definitely don't want them being involve in establishing the city's character. I much prefer them as a small insignificant insular community, if at all, than as an influential in setting the character of the cit. And the haredim hurt most by them x should also not want their influence. Late they will regret asking for it...
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