Transcript of Special Video Message from
Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka
Rav Dov Landau Regarding Voting for Eretz Hakodesh/WZO: איסור חמור מאד מאד מאד מאד!
Rav Dov Landau was asked voting or participating in the World Zionist Organization (WZO) elections. He says clearly that there is no heter what-so-ever and than any Gadol b'Yisroel that said it was allowed was fed the wrong information. "It's as if they told you to go and serve עבודה זרה!" He addresses the so-called "statement" of R' Chaim Kanievsky ztvk"l in support of Eretz Hakodesh "He was not given the proper information.""One is mechuyav to cancel their vote!"
Rav Landau dismisses the notion that there could be “another side” on such a basic Torah attitude. If some Gedolei Yisroel were cited as having given their assent, the question must have been presented incorrectly. No Gadol could possibly have agreed to joining the World Zionist Organization, which was founded with the express purpose of destroying the Torah and maintains that goal until today.
Transcript, translated from Hebrew by UKforTorah:
:The WZO was founded with the goal of making Am Yisroel into a secular nation. That was its purpose, and that is what it engages is, and that is what they’ve done – to turn Am Yisroel into a secular nation, without Torah, and without Borei Olam – Rachmona Litzlan – without Torah, without anything!
That was the purpose – and, to an extent, it was to accomplish that purpose that they also built the State, which is secular. The topic of that we participate in the [Knesset] elections in the secular State – that is a completely different topic. But to participate in the WZO, which is entirely kefira in Borei Olam, kefira in Torah, in Am Yisroel as an Am Kadosh L’HaShem, to turn them into Amon and Moav – that is something very very seriously [wrong]. It’s impossible to participate in their institutions. That would be called us having a connection to them, and we don’t!
One can say the sharpest words; I don’t want to express myself more sharply. But the fact is, that [it is] turning Am Yisroel from an Am Kadosh L’HaShem into a secular nation, without Torah, without Mitzvos, without anything.
Q. What’s the definition of the issur – a [halachic] issur or a problem of Chillul HaShem?
It’s everything – being partners with the secular. I’ll say words that are bit too sharp – if the decision would be regarding serving Avodah Zora, would there still be a question? No! This is Avodah Zora; kefira is like Avodah Zora, and even worse!
Q. The issur includes only to run [as a WZO representative] or also to participate in the elections?
To be with them in their institutions.
Q. Is there an issur on each individual on voting?
Each and every individual. Just like if there would an idea that we have to go serve Avoda Zora, would that be a collective issur or on each individual? The WZO says that Am Yisroel is a nation of secularists, and each individual has to declare that he opposed to that.
Q. People ask – is there an issur to vote?
A very, very, very, very, grave issur!
Q. They say that there were Gedolei Yisroel זצ"ל, in the previous generations, who permitted.
They didn’t present them with the question in the way they should have. [These Gedolim] were immersed in Torah and Mitzvos, and the question was presented to them incorrectly.
Q. There are those who already voted, but have the option of cancelling the vote.
They are obligated to cancel, they are obligated to cancel! They are extremely obligated, there is no exemption.
Credit: UKforTorah at gmail.com