Bsd
Lichvod HaRabonim Shlita
It seems like the members of Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah have different opinions of whether or not the people should vote for the WZC election. While Rav Brudny, Rav Kamenetsky have given a Psak to vote based on the opinion of Rav Kanievsky, this Psak has not been publicized in a way to make a real difference.
A letter written on the Rav's stationary and a short video and a directive, Kol Korei, to publicize in the media, schools and shuls is all that it takes to possibly add hundreds of thousands of religious voters to register and vote.That surely would make a huge difference!
The reason probably that this approach has not been taken is that major advocacy in favor for voting in the WZC election would bring to light the divide among the Gedoilim regarding this matter. This in turn leads to Lashon Hara, controversy etc. This opinion however, is considered by those in favor of a campaign to vote, short sighted.
Being passive and not getting out the vote has a lasting nonacceptable alternative of empowering the Reform and Leftist anti Torah and anti-Zionists platform and agenda.
Of course the two approaches need to be weighed.
A divide of opinion regarding Zionism among Gedolei Yisroel date back to 1937 to the MGH Conference in Marienbad. The final Rabbinic Resolution of the majority of the Gedoilim at the time was that if a Jewish government was to be established it should be according to Torah..
While we must brace ourselves for a backlash in encouraging Jews to vote in the WZC, this hopefully will turn into BEH a Machlokes LeShem Shamayim.
Alternatively, not effectively addressing the empowerment of Secular "Zionists" and being passive has a long term backlash of a different sort that affects the very fabric of Israel education and society.
Rabbi Abadie, leader of the Sephardic Slate has pointed out that the Sephardim don't take the word Zionism as a political statement defined by 1948 and the establishment of the State of Israel. Zionism, according to Sephardim, is a Biblical reference to ציון the yearning of Am Yisroel of thousands of years starting with Hashem's Promise, the Covenant Hashem made with our Forefathers Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov to bequeath the Land to Israel as an Eternal Heritage.
As Rabbi Abadie pointed out, when immigrants arrived to Eretz Yisroel, they literally kissed the ground.
This is the accurate definition of Zionism and there is a consensus among Torah scholars among Ashkenazim as well...So why not publicize?
Publicizing and implementing the Rabbinic Resolutions of Marienbad 1937.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B86sGl9yfinjMW5pUTAtNVF3RzQ/view
Fyi for your consideration
Marienbad Folder with links to HaPardes Journal pdfs which documented the Conference.
Also fyi
