The publication of the Israeli Agudas Yisroel’s traditional election proclamation has been postponed yet again as disagreements among the courts of the Chassidic Rebbes continue over the document’s wording, particularly a controversial passage that could be understood as condemning voters who support Shas rather than United Torah Judaism.

Yaakov Veltzer, secretary of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel, instructed the editorial offices of Hamodia and Hamevaser not to publish the proclamation on Sunday, as had been anticipated. The new target for publication is Monday, although no final agreement has yet been reached.

The latest delay follows an objection raised by the Gerer Rebbe to language in the original document that appeared to characterize anyone who failed to vote for United Torah Judaism, whose ballot designation is Gimmel, as indirectly participating in a chillul Hashem and bearing responsibility for a particularly serious sin.

The original proclamation had already received approval for publication before it was withdrawn at the last moment on Thursday evening.

According to the report, the Gerer Rebbe questioned how such language could be published when it would seemingly include those voting for Shas, who are themselves following the instructions of their own Gedolei Yisroel.

His objection focused on the implication that a person obeying the guidance of Sephardic rabbonim by voting for Shas could nevertheless be described as committing a serious transgression simply because he had not voted Gimmel.

The concern prompted renewed discussions over the wording of the proclamation, which is traditionally issued by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah ahead of elections to instruct the Chassidic public regarding its voting obligations.

A revised version was subsequently proposed in an effort to address the Gerer Rebbe’s concerns while preserving the Moetzes’ clear endorsement of United Torah Judaism.

Under the alternative wording, the proclamation would state that United Torah Judaism is the only electoral list that the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah calls upon its followers to support.

It would also caution against voting for parties that do not enjoy the approval of the Gedolei Yisroel.

Significantly, the revised draft would eliminate the original declaration that anyone who fails to vote Gimmel is indirectly responsible for a chillul Hashem.

The modification was intended to distinguish between an explicit directive to Agudas Yisroel supporters to vote for United Torah Judaism and a broader condemnation that could be interpreted as applying to voters following other recognized rabbinic authorities.

Veltzer circulated the revised text among the various Rebbes’ courts on Friday and again on Motzoei Shabbos, seeking the approval necessary to proceed with publication.

Despite those efforts, the consultations failed to produce a final consensus, forcing another postponement.

The parties are now considering several possibilities, including adopting the softened language, restoring the stronger warning contained in the original proclamation, or developing an additional compromise that would satisfy the different positions.

The disagreement comes at a sensitive moment in the election campaign, with the chareidi parties working to mobilize their supporters amid continuing disputes over military conscription and the future political representation of the Torah community.

The wording of the proclamation carries particular significance because it is issued under the authority of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and is intended to convey the position of the Chassidic leadership to its followers.

The current disagreement does not concern whether United Torah Judaism should receive the support of Agudas Yisroel voters. Rather, it centers on how strongly the proclamation should characterize the consequences of voting for another party, particularly when that party is Shas.

For the Gerer Rebbe, the concern reportedly lies in ensuring that an endorsement of United Torah Judaism does not inadvertently cast aspersions on Sephardic voters who are following the instructions of their own rabbonim.

The discussions also reflect the challenge of securing agreement among the different Chassidic courts on language that carries both halachic and political implications.

As of Motzoei Shabbos, the revised proclamation had not received the necessary final approval, and the newspaper editors were instructed to hold off on printing it.

Efforts to reach an agreement are continuing, with Monday now being discussed as the next possible publication date.

{Matzav.com}