Voting is a religious obligation

Posted 10/24/24

As an American Jew, I see the act of voting not just as an expression of my civic duty, but also as a religious obligation (mitzvah in Hebrew) as well.

 A core understanding in our tradition is that we are partners with the Divine in helping to create a more equitable and just world. Additionally, we have always been obligated to help improve the welfare of communities in which we live. Today, we have numerous Jewish organizations working on core communal issues ranging from food insecurity, racial justice, mental health support, and more for the benefit of all. While voting is not …

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Voting is a religious obligation

Posted

As an American Jew, I see the act of voting not just as an expression of my civic duty, but also as a religious obligation (mitzvah in Hebrew) as well.

 A core understanding in our tradition is that we are partners with the Divine in helping to create a more equitable and just world. Additionally, we have always been obligated to help improve the welfare of communities in which we live. Today, we have numerous Jewish organizations working on core communal issues ranging from food insecurity, racial justice, mental health support, and more for the benefit of all. While voting is not the only action that we can take to improve public welfare, it is an important expression of the mitzvah of tikkun olam, Hebrew for repairing the world. 

The great sage, Hillel once taught, "Do not separate yourself from the community (Avot 2:4)." By participating actively in the democratic process we are ensuring that we, and others, are hopefully helping to create a more just, generous, and compassionate society for our children and grandchildren. Please vote.

Rabbi Nathan Martin

Mt. Airy