For years I have been saying that the Litvishe community has been adopting chassidishe and sefardic practices and absorbing them into their own customs and behavior. The most glaring ha always the turning of the Litvishe gedolim into chassidishe rebbes, in the form of brachos and segulos and whatnot.

According to a report on Behadrei, Rav Chaim Kanievsky should soon be called Baba Chaim, or maybe Santa Chaim, instead of Rav Chaim or Rav Kanievsky. And this is not a knock on Rav Kanievsky, but on those doing this to him.

According to the report, with elections just over a week away, Degel Hatorah feels there is a sense of complacency and frustration among the people. They are worried that many people just won't bother turning up to vote. People are tired of the political stalemate, they see no point in getting involved or being passionate about it.

To that end, Degel is working on coming up with ideas that will motivate people and get them out. The latest plan is that Degel activists will go out daily to different communities around the country, especially in the periphery and will bring with them a trailer with a mobile home that will also be carrying the chair of Rav Chaim Kanievsky - the same chair he sits on every day for hours while learning Torah.

The people participating in these rallies will each get an opportunity to sit, for a minute, on the chair of Rav Chaim Kanievsky and say some tehillim, accept upon himself a good deed/As well, the participants will be able to write down a personal request from Rav Chaim.

The article says that some of the members of the Kanievsky house are opposed to the idea, but ultimately it will be brought to him for approval and he will decide.

Mixing religion and politics always does more damage than good...