jewish
Rabbi Fendel: Rabbis Have a Duty to Speak Out on Politics
During a special convention, Rabbi David Fendel, head of the Sderot hesder yeshiva, addressed the critical intersection of faith, leadership, and civic duty. He firmly asserted that religious leaders must engage in political discussions and guide their communities through electoral periods rather than remaining silent on public matters. At the same time, the rabbi emphasized individual autonomy, telling his students to exercise independent judgment at the ballot box. He cautioned against wasting votes on factions unlikely to clear the electoral threshold and expressed deep sorrow over ongoing internal divisions within the religious Zionist camp.