There is a Milchemet Mitzva going on, but not the one you are thinking of

In Sunday's mayoral runoff election in Bet Shemesh, it seems Shmuel Greenberg, the candidate from Degel Hatorah, has the best odds of winning. The campaign is in high gear as he tries to persuade other political parties and rabbonim to throw their support to him so that most of their followers and adherents will vote Greenberg.

This set of posters in particular is highly offensive and has made it to the national news. Unless Shas throws their support to Aliza Bloch, the numbers arent even close and I am not sure why they are going to such an offensive campaign in its final days...

The posters say - " In a Milchemet mitzva, a mandatory war, everyone has to go out, even a groom from his room and the bride from her chuppa - on Sunday everyone must go out to vote!" etc etc

There is a war going on. A real war. A real milchemet mitzva. The real war is happening down south, and somewhat up north. Thousands of soldiers, and previously hundreds of thousands of soldiers, are serving and have gone to battle. The Haredi community has for the most part not taken part in that milchemet mitzva, finding every excuse why they are to be excused from it. Yes, they did volunteer and donate equipment and make barbecues for soldiers, but that is far from the same thing as going to battle. But for the war in Bet Shemesh to become mayor that is the milchemet mitzva they must all go out for!!??

Not only did the Haredi parties, all around the country, benefit from general low voter turnout because of the war (less interest in municipal elections during a war) while Haredi turnout remained high as it normally is, thus winning higher percentages of seats in city councils.. Not only did they run aggressive campaigns and fought with other Haredi sectors over power and control, while the country is at war. Not only all that but now they are using terminology from war to fight the battle of elections? 

These signs are in poor taste. Very poor taste.

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