What’s Jewish About Voting

Rabbi Stephen Weiss

The Rabbis of the Talmud go as far as to say that even God would not select a ruler without consulting the people.

There is a well-known story that on Election Day, the Chazon Ish (1878-1953) asked of another Jew, “Did you vote yet?” The person responded, “No.” “Why not?” the Chazon Ish persisted. The person answered, “I don’t have the money to pay the poll tax.” At that time, the government of Poland-Lithuania required a poll tax to be paid before Jews could vote. It also required the Jewish community to collect that tax.

The Chazon Ish would not give up. He was determined that this Jew should vote. He asked: “Do you own a pair of tefillin?”

“Of course,” the person replied.

“Well,” said the Chazon Ish, “go and sell your pair of tefillin and use the funds to pay the poll tax so that you can go and vote.”

Imagine! This pious and highly revered authority on Jewish law actually instructed a Jew to sell his tefillin! When he was later asked why, the Chazon Ish explained both wearing tefillin and voting were mitzvot (commandments). He was not worried that this Jew would not put on tefillin. If he needed to, he could always borrow tefillin from someone else. On the other hand, reasoned the great scholar, you cannot borrow the right to vote. Voting was, in the eyes of the Chazon Ish, a supreme, sacred obligation.

Judaism has been a proponent of voting for longer than many realize. The Talmudic sages taught that When God chose Bezalel to build the Tabernacle, God first sought the approval of the people and only then appointed him. Moses tells the Israelites that they will decide to set a king over them, as opposed to a ruler imposing his rule.

Indeed, the book of Samuel tells us that God’s choice for the second king, David, was confirmed by “all of Israel’s elders.” His son, King Solomon, inherited the throne. The Bible tells us, however, that “all the people” together ratified his accession. The Rabbis of the Talmud go as far as to say that even God would not select a ruler without consulting the people.

Why is voting so intrinsically Jewish? It begins with core Jewish values like tikkun olam, the obligation to repair and heal our society and our world. The sages understood that loving our neighbor as ourselves – a core mitzvah in the Torah – means looking after their welfare in the same way we look after our own. Doing so requires collective efforts and resources. That’s why the Talmud teaches that we are obligated to pay for public services and to “take an active role in serving the public good.”

We bear ultimate responsibility for the type of society in which we live. It falls to each of us to play our role in choosing our leaders based on who we feel will be best not just for us, but for everybody. Who will ensure a strong economy and prosperity? Who will ensure the safety, health and well being of all? Who will embody the Jewish values we cherish: integrity, love, compassion, helping the needy, uplifting the fallen, healing the sick, hospitality, inclusion, justice?

The Belzer Rebbe in Israel was known to send away people who came to see him for a blessing on election day, refusing to see them until they voted. He commented that it was very hard for him to send them away, but he had no choice. Why? “Because the elections are such a great mitzvah, I could not hold them back!” He waved his two holy arms in the air and said with reverence, ‘Az a groiseh mitzvah!’ (Such a big mitzvah!).

A groiseh mitzvah! So, make sure that you vote! Don’t let anything stop you from fulfilling this sacred civic responsibility which our tradition teaches is also one of the highest religious obligations: to actively play our role as God’s partners in making this world a better place.

Below you will find a prayer to recite before you fulfill the mitzvah of voting.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Stephen Weiss

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A Voter’s Prayer

Behold, I am intending through my vote to seek the well-being of this country and all who dwell here, as it is written (Jeremiah 29:7): “Seek the well-being of the city where I cause you to roam and pray for her to God, for in her well-being will you find your own well-being.”

May it be Your will, O God, that votes be counted faithfully, and may You count my vote as if I had fulfilled the words of Jeremiah verse with all my power.

May You give a listening heart to whomever we elect and may it be good in Your eyes to raise for us a good government that will bring healing, justice and peace to all living in this land and to all the world, and upon Jerusalem, a government that will honor the image of God in all humanity and in Creation, for true rulership is Yours alone.

Just as I have participated / Just as I will participate in this election, so may I merit to do good works and to repair the world through all my efforts.

Fulfill for us the verse (Psalms 90:17): “May the pleasure of Adonai our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; make the work of our hands endure.”

Amen.

(Prayer by Rabbi David Seidenberg, adapted by Rabbi Stephen Weiss)