HaRav Aharon Lopiansky Shlita, who has become a very prominent voice on the Frum scene [deservedly so] writes:
"Another element that has begun to plague our community — and which especially manifested itself during these last elections — is our emotional involvement with the political candidates and their parties.No candidate or party represents Torah values. Neither the Republican nor the Democratic platform is Torah. (And this is beside the fact that their political “ideologies” are shifting sand.) A Torah Yid has no business identifying with either party."
It is hard for me to disagree more.
Of course the Rav is correct that neither the Republican nor the Democratic platform is Torah. And he is also correct that their political ideologies are shifting sand.
It is also true that politicians on both sides do not live their lives according to our standards of honesty, modesty, humility, fear of Hashem and many other important qualities. Not Doniel Yonason. Not Baruch Hussien. Not Yosef Reuven. Not any of them. Our Gedolim are the Chofetz Chaim and the Chazon Ish and a host of others. People who were paragons of piety and purity. I am not aware of any politician about whom I would say to my child - "Be like that guy/lady when you grow up". We make the Bracha שלא עשני גוי every day and that applies equally to the President, Vice President, Secretary of State and the Governor of any State as it applies to the sanitation worker or your local Hispanic plumber or Haitian taxi driver. We respect all people but look only to the Torah and Tzadikim for values and guidance.
That being said - All one has to do is read the platforms of the two parties, listen to what their politicians say [add quite a bit of salt] and decide who is closer to the Jewish outlook. Who feels closer to Israel [and acts accordingly] and who in contrast sees our struggle in the Middle East as two equal opponents who both have valid claims on this little piece of holy real estate we call Israel. Who feels closer to the Jewish and particularly the Orthodox community. Whichever party that is - we go with them headstrong. Isn't it revealing that the vast majority of secular and unaffiliated Jews voted one way and Torah committed Jews the other way? What would Rav Lopiansky say about the Gedolei Talmidei Chachomim who came out in favor of one of the candidates? In addition - I personally feel tremendous hakaras hatov [as do many others] for the person who was zocheh to fulfill the great mitzva [that I have never fulfilled] of Pidyon Shvuyim, when he pardoned some prominent Frum prisoners [one of whom I know well] and saved them from a life in the Gehenom we call jail. [This OF COURSE is not an approbation for everything he has done or said].
Politics - especially as it is being played out today - is sickening. The heads of Jewish men should NEVER be in politics [unless they will bring us practical benefit]. Our heads should be in the Gemara, in the Ktzos, in the Teshuvos of Rebbe Akiva Eiger and in the Mishna Brura. THAT is our lifeblood. The heads of Jewish women should be in their families and in their Avodas Hashem. [BTW - Men ALSO have to serve Hashem]. It is profoundly disturbing how much more people are interested in politics than they are in learning. But when it comes to voting - we have to go with the party who is the closest to our values and genuinely care about the outcome.
Now, this is partially a moot point. The elections are over. What is important to remember is that our attitudes should be shaped by the Torah and our tradition. A statement that neither party represents Torah values sounds correct at first glance but I find it highly misleading. [I am sure that the Rav meant well and he is a much greater person and Talmid Chochom than I am - but one is allowed to present counter-arguments. We Jews don't have a Pope...].
