Rabbi Can’t Vote, Voices Opinion

Dear British Citizen and Fellow Jew,

For the past several weeks I have been posting on Facebook and Tweeting about the current general election underway today. “Typical North American Rabbi,” is the natural response. “They all get het up over politics.”

To be sure, I’d like to make something abundantly clear for the record. As a Rabbi I tend to never speak about politics from the pulpit or indeed talk about it in any other forum. Much as it is all too commonplace in the States, I fundamentally disagree with doing so. For one, I will invariably alienate those who hold an opposing view – and for some people, politics rates right up there with religion. For another, I don’t vote in the UK elections – I don’t even have a British passport (yes I know, I know – save it).

But in this particular instance I am speaking out, not because of politics but because of my future as a Jew in this country.

Rarely if ever has there been a scenario where the choice is between one of democracy and one of chaos. Mr Corbyn’s track record as a Hamas sympathiser, as an IRA supporter, as an apparent terrorist enabler (weeks before the 7/7 bombings he ranted about ‘terror hysteria’ and then said the Islamist murderers were ‘denied hope and opportunity’) and as someone whom it is alleged by those close to him, has a problem with Jews – I think the choice is clear: A future of stability and security or one of increased Antisemitism – which is already so manifest in his party – and unruliness.

I remain especially perturbed by the fact that two Jews are standing for Labour in staunchly Jewish districts. I challenged one, Mike Katz, when chairing a hustings evening several weeks ago. His reply was, “I can only affect change from the inside.” The thinking defies logic. When Corbyn’s own party voted overwhelmingly no confidence in him, it forced a leadership election which he won. How much less likely is anyone going to “affect change” if he is voted in as Prime Minister. I maintain for each vote these two take for Labour, they are contributing to the ever-increasing general hate in the UK, and Antisemitism in particular.

The polls close at 10:00 PM tonight. The box you tick has never been more significant in modern history. It will make all the difference to you as a Jew, to you as a citizen who believes in democracy, and to keeping the “Great” in Britain.

Sincerely,
Yitzchak Schochet
An apolitical Rabbi