STUNNING DEVELOPMENT: Rabbi Aharon Feldman Retracts His Opposition To Voting In WZO Elections

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Rabbi Aharon Feldman of Yeshiva Ner Yisroel of Baltimore speaking at the Agudah Convention

BALTIMORE (VINnews) — There has been a major development in the ongoing saga of the WZO election debate. VINnews can confirm that little to no Rabbinical opposition remains to the widely accepted position to vote in the elections, as Rabbi Aharon Feldman has retracted his position.

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As was previously reported by VINnews, Rabbi Aharon Feldman of Yeshiva Ner Yisroel of Baltimore had joined Rabbi Malkiel Kotler of Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood in threatening Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky that they will quit the Moetzes Gedolei Yisroel of Agudath Israel of America unless he retracts his support of those who will vote in the WZO elections.

Rabbi Kamenetsky has not since retracted his position, yet neither Rabbi Feldman nor Rabbi Kotler have followed through on their threats to quit the Moetzes.

In the interim, Rabbi Kamenetsky wrote Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky a two page handwritten in depth letter, presenting the question of whether one should vote in the WZO elections. Rabbi Kanievsky responded that it was 100% permitted according to Halacha.

At a Moetzes meeting that was subsequently held on the phone, Rabbi Kotler and Rabbi Feldman once again questioned Rabbi Kamenetsky who responded by reading his in depth letter and response from Rabbi Kanievsky. The meeting was immediately adjourned.

On Friday, Rabbi Feldman released a letter published in a Lakewood publication claiming that Rabbi Brudny had retracted his position. This is totally not the case, and VINnews has confirmed that Rabbi Brudny has not changed his opinion on the matter.

In a major development Monday morning, VINnews has confirmed that in a conversation with well-known news editor Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, Rabbi Feldman has retracted his position, and has stated that he is “Mevatel his Da’as to Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky on the matter,” effectively declaring that he no longer opposes the position of Rabbi Brudny and Rabbi Kamenetsky.

This stunning development leaves Rabbi Malkiel Kotler the lone voice who still opposes the nearly unanimous view of Gedolei Hador that it is permitted to vote in the WZO elections.


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41 Comments
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Refoel
Refoel
4 years ago

So now Rav Malkiel Kotler shlita of Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood stands alone. Undoubtedly, the reason for his remaining in the position is the fact that he recognized Rav Shmuel Auerbach zt”l’s remarkable depth and gaonus in his Torah erudition. I hope that one day we can make an agudah achas to do the ratzon Hashem.

3rd grader at recess
3rd grader at recess
4 years ago

Seriously? Who cares??? This whole story is one big nothing-burger. Yes WZO no WZO. The few dollars they get is not going to make or break any organization. Everybody grow up.

Mordy Weissberg
Mordy Weissberg
4 years ago

The gedolim who were against voting and made a gathering in Jerusalem have now all sided with R Feldman
and urge all to vote now,its only $5 but for a mitzva its so worth it

triumphinwhitehouse
triumphinwhitehouse
4 years ago

I don’t get it, if Zionisim is so evil why is Aguda sitting in Knesset and even serving as minister, either be Satmar or be like Dati Leumi.

Was a democrat until I saw the light
Was a democrat until I saw the light
4 years ago

This isn’t about money per se it’s about controlling religious institutions and protecting the religious from an over bearing liberal anti religious left
As per Kotler guess it doesn’t effect him he gets no money or support from Israel

Mobile
Mobile
4 years ago

I don’t understand the entire issue here, but I do understand one thing: All the rabbonim mentioned are talmidei chachamim and someone who speaks (or writes) against them is taking a big risk – even if they are wrong – which no one knows.
I would recommend strongly that you keep your biting cynicism of all people, particularly Jews, especially talmidei chachamim to yourself. It is the right thing to do and runs you less of a risk.

Bill from Jersey city.
Bill from Jersey city.
4 years ago

I can’t for the life of me figure out, how in the world do people have the CHUTZPA to talk against these big GEDOLIM.

In every generation, the GEDOLIM disagreed with each other, but they loved each other at the same time as well!!!!!!!

I feel bad for anyone that mixes in to this disagreement, you are playing with FIRE RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!!

STAY AWAY AND LET THE GEDOLIM DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER, AND LOVE EACH OTHER AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!

ruby
ruby
4 years ago

the moral of the story is that hagoan rav feldman is an ish emes and was mevatel his daas to reb chaim and publicly retracts is gadlus.

Chana
Chana
4 years ago

So basically, if you choose to vote, or if you choose not to vote, “yesh al me lesmoch”. Everybody think it through and decide for yourself.

Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty
4 years ago

Yawning. Duh? Huh?
Who cares?

Genuine lamdan
Genuine lamdan
4 years ago

Don’t understand why anyone should assume that r Aaron Feldman retracted his WRITTEN position based on VIN VERBAL ” verification “. Only a fool or someone who trusts media outlets (that might be redundant) will believe the retraction. But for anyone older than 7-8 years old. You go with the written.
Thought this was pretty basic but since none of the previous comments mentioned this point, I thought I might.

Yankel Holech Ruchel
Yankel Holech Ruchel
4 years ago

Sinas Chinum and Gaivah- our old Nisyonos.
And if this is most relevant to Eretz Yisroel, what right do American Rabbis have to interfere??

velvel
velvel
4 years ago

reb ahron feldman did not retract

Meir Nussbaum
Meir Nussbaum
4 years ago

Being mvatail ones daas doesn’t necessarily imply one has changed their mind. It could mean that because of the tremendous respect Rav Feldman has for Rav Kanievski he doesn’t oppose those who follow the Gadol Hador’s daas Torah.

We should learn from him and not put done a major Rosh Hayehiva who definitely espouses daas Torah whether anyone agrees with him or not. He doesn’t need the approval of anyone with tainted comments.

Not Suprised
Not Suprised
4 years ago

Clarify please? Is the opposition to vote due to giving money to the ZOA, or affirming one’s agreement with their ideology – thus negating serious tenets and belief?

Not Suprised
Not Suprised
4 years ago

It would be helpful to learn the mishnah in Yoma (?) Regarding the discourse regarding the calendar, carrying money on Yom Kippur, and the underlying kavod of, for, and between truly devoted halachic and Torah authorities.

Wierd
Wierd
4 years ago

I have not seen any clear written support for this initiative from any gedolim whether Rav Kaminetzky, Rav Kanievsky, Aguda…. It seems to be a very well oiled and well funded initiative with massive media support. Smells fishy. Why should we believe there is a retraction from Rav Feldman with out proof when there is the written proof not to vote. I think this a shrewd campaign to wear down Rav Feldman.

Knubby
Knubby
4 years ago

The rebbe is moshiach!
The lutvaks are fighting, make it juicy like the chasidim!

The_Truth
The_Truth
4 years ago

To vote, you need to agree with “The Jerusalem Program”, which is:

The Jerusalem Program
THE JERUSALEM PROGRAM IS THE OFFICIAL PLATFORM OF THE WORLD ZIONIST ORGANIZATION AND THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT

Zionism, the national liberation movement of the Jewish people, brought about the establishment of the State of Israel, and views a Jewish, Zionist, democratic and secure State of Israel to be the expression of the common responsibility of the Jewish people for its continuity and future.

The foundations of Zionism are:

1.The unity of the Jewish people, its bond to its historic homeland Eretz Yisrael, and the centrality of the State of Israel and Jerusalem, its capital, in the life of the nation;

2.Aliyah to Israel from all countries and the effective integration of all immigrants into Israeli society.

3.Strengthening Israel as a Jewish, Zionist and democratic state and shaping it as an exemplary society with a unique moral and spiritual character, marked by mutual respect for the multi-faceted Jewish people, rooted in the vision of the prophets, striving for peace and contributing to the betterment of the world.

4.Ensuring the future and the distinctiveness of the Jewish people by furthering Jewish, Hebrew and Zionist education, fostering spiritual and cultural values and teaching Hebrew as the national language;

5.Nurturing mutual Jewish responsibility, defending the rights of Jews as individuals and as a nation, representing the national Zionist interests of the Jewish people, and struggling against all manifestations of anti-Semitism;

6.Settling the country as an expression of practical Zionism.

Rabbi Kolakowski
Rabbi Kolakowski
4 years ago

there are plenty of gedolim who oppose this, not only Rav Malkiel Kotler – just VIN doesn’t recognize them…

Bshtei Einayim
Bshtei Einayim
4 years ago

It’s a horaas shah (an exceptional psak) and it’s a special zchus to listen to ziknei hador if they issue an exceptional psak. Part of the horaas shah is that you may even sign the pledge. Joining an Israeli government according to most poskim is also a horaas shah despite the need to pledge allegiance etc. Yet almost all chareidim in E’Y and talmidei chachmim support this. Follow Gedolei Yisroel and you will surely be rewarded. That shows that you are able to be mevatel to their daas and shows that you are are truly dedicated to Toras Hashem. Hatzlocha Raba – and remember that this is a one time exceptional psak for now so you can do it with a heavy heart. But we are forced to do it…

Dan rather
Dan rather
4 years ago

How do you have a photo of a big Rosh Yeshiva practically alongside a photo of a shiksa

Emes
Emes
4 years ago

This report like much of the online reporting is FALSE
I have spoken today to two individuals who phoned Rav Feldman today asking if he retracted his ruling, he categorically denied it.

Interestingly those who oppose have written and signed and publicized in whichever media was wiling to publicize, but from those pro we haven’t seen or heard one written word.

The video of Rav Shmuel K was regarding the israeli elections not regarding WZO as misrepresented on VIN

Emes
Emes
4 years ago

Just to summarize:
Rabbi D. Soloveitchik
Rabbi Shternbuch
Rabbi Ber Wachtfogel
Rabbi Feldman
Rabbi Miller
Rabbi Kotler
Rabbi Schustal
Rabbi Newman
Rabbi Eliezer Schwartzman
Rabbi Miller
RabbiShalom Shechter
Rabbi Zuckerman
Rabbi Jacobs
have all Written and signed their names declaring their clear opposition. (in Lakewood these letters are all readily available)

On the other hand not ONE written signed statement pro voting in the WZO. Not from Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky or Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky. all ambiguous REPORTS on websites.
VERY INTERESTING!

And the MILLION $ question who is funding this $ Million multimedia effort, can it be the WZO itself, funding the effort to get the frum community to take them over??!!

Emes
Emes
4 years ago

For all those who actually care r ahron Feldman was not chozer and told me ” mitzvah lepharsim” but nobody really cares just to create hock and letzunis # pachad yitzchok purim mamer aleph

Fred
Fred
4 years ago

Can you please retract this article. It is simply not true. How can you run something the is false. Do you have it in writing that he retracted. I have it in writing that he didn’t. Do you have an agenda or are you beholden to the Almighty advertising dollars?

Clear
Clear
4 years ago

Everybody keep quiet. don’t dare harm the well orchestrated effort of the WZO which tries so hard to get kosher al pi ziknei hador and horaas shaa, so they can smoothly drag orthodox jewry into their dark alley.

Don’t come with old fanatic torah values. The WZO has produced their own values and they managed -from under a thin veil- to drag large parts of orthodox jewry to follow them, from a distance. Their orthodox allies have produced and sold well, some creatively foolish excuses and they even manged -due to dire circumstances, and lowly political maneuvers- to drag gedolim into this. Now when the time is ripe for the WZO to reap the efforts of more than a millennia, please don’t interfere, just shut up, except the bdieved excuses from the gedolim (the media) and follow lechatchila. Nothing has changed strategically, it’s just another step down. Are we ready jump off the wagon now???
P.S. Horaas shaa is reserved for a Novi al pi Hashem. The media and the low life’s to the right of some of the gedolim can just fool the crowd as always.

STOP LYING ABOUT OUR ROSHEI YISHIVA
STOP LYING ABOUT OUR ROSHEI YISHIVA
4 years ago

Call Ner Yisroel payphones and ask anyone what he ACTUALLY said. Rav Ahron Feldman said clearly and unambiguously on Wendsday (3/4) that he absolutely was not chozer and maintains his opposition to WZO voting.

Mevarer haemes
Mevarer haemes
4 years ago

I called the pay phones if ner Israel and the guy who piled up said that the rosh hayeshiva never said in public eg a shmooze that it’s oser stop putting words into the mouth of our gedolim

Mevarer haemes
Mevarer haemes
4 years ago

It’s user to vote no question about it your being part of Herzl’s big plan to shmad the yidden it’s also usser to vote in Israeli elections you can’t have anything to do with the evil state of Israel and it’s discusting army! We daven for the speedy bringing of moshiach and then see the true kedushas Yisroel come out with out the rotten values of the medina!!