I think I received a missive in the mail. Hell, I thought they were just wingdings. Now, I know they were cartoon cuss wingdings!
Posted on 03/26/2006 12:45:17 PM PST by Alouette
In the latest allegations of election impropriety leveled against the haredi Shas party, spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef has been accused of illegally cursing those who do not support the party.
Missives written in Yosef's hand were distributed to Shas voters, proclaiming "Cursed be those for they did not come to the aid of God; Cursed be he who does not fulfill the word of this Torah to do them. I make a halaha [Jewish law] that one must vote and influence Shas."
Shortly after details of the missive were revealed, Shas Chairman Eli Yishai was quick to deny that Yosef had intended the message as a threat.
"I never deny the things that the Rabbi says, but rather I explain his intent, because there are those who don't understand his Biblical and Talmudic language," Yishai explained. "He does not in any sense curse those who do not vote Shas. The rabbi speaks the word of Living God."
Legislation passed following the 1996 elections prohibits 'lobbying to vote or not to vote via oath, curse, excommunication, promise to bless, or by giving amulets.'
On Friday, the outspoken spiritual leader fended off criticism for a quote attributed to him in the haredi newspaper Bakehila, in which he allegedly said that "anyone who votes for Kadima will fall backwards into Hell."
Former Shas chairman Aryeh Deri said that he had discussed the matter with the rabbi, and reiterated in the rabbi's name that had Yosef made such a statement he never would deny it afterwards.
The newspaper Bakehila said in response that the statement is an exact quote taken from a recording made of the interview. The rabbi, famous for previous incendiary comments against Arabs, secular Jews and African-Americans, was interviewed a few days earlier by haredi journalists. In other articles citing the interview, the quote was phrased differently than in the Bakehila version, and did not use the word "hell".
Earlier this year, Supreme Court Justice Dorit Beinisch, head of the central elections committee, instructed Shas to withdraw an ad in which Yosef offered a blessing of happiness and well-being to anyone who voted for his party.
In the 1996 elections, Shas's representation in the Knesset jumped from six mandates to 10 thanks to the amulets of the late kabbalist Rabbi Yitzhak Kadouri. Before the amulets were given out, polls showed Shas would receive no more than four mandates.
After the election, MK Ophir Paz-Pines (Labor) drafted legislation, ratified by the Knesset, that prohibited the use of amulets or other religious objects to influence voters.
In 1999, Justice Eliahu Mazza, head of the Central Elections Committee, ruled yesterday on a complaint by Shas that Meretz's distribution of hamsas - hand-shaped good luck charms - with prayers for the home was a violation of the election laws. The hamsa was signed by Meretz MK Ran Cohen in areas with public housing, a population which Cohen aims to attract after initiating the Public Housing Law. Mazza ruled that the item 'is indeed an amulet' and thus is a violation of the law, and noted that 'especially Meretz should show sensitivity to using such outlawed means.' Since Meretz's attorney said the distribution had halted and promised not to repeat the violation, Shas accepted Mazza's request not to issue an injunction against Meretz.
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
The seculars seem to be a tad too concerned about this, don't they? By making it illegal, they're implying that there actually is some basis to fear being cursed. It's sort of like the IRS, determining that the separation of church and state was violated by prayer for the victory of one presidential candidate over another. Who would think that the IRS would ever confirm the power of prayer?
Oy Vey! Duck!.......
By the beard of the profit (LOL), I spit on your shadow!
May your loins be barren of children and your feet turn....chartreuse!
Are there legal curses?
I have four hamsas that look like this red one
Well, one could curse either legally or illegally. It must involve the degree of curse sophistication.
The Middle East is a generally demented place. But one must admit that prohibiting cursing is quite a bit less extreme than executing religious converts.
Yeah, the legal curses are sanctioned by the body that gives out the 'License to Curse'. (rimshot)
He said "vershluggener", among other things.
When curses are outlawed, only outlaws will have curses!
They might charge him with "Reckless Eyeballing".
This article is very funny.
The irreligious and anti-religious left pursue laws to ban amulets and blessings they don't believe in.
I can see why giving out items of value would be illegal. It's like buying votes. But banning prayers? Or banning 'curses'? It is demented.
“As a result the prime minister made an alliance with Shinui and dropped the religious parties; cancelled budgets for yeshivas and cut back on countless spiritual things. We believed in (Ariel) Sharon at that time; they said it was good to have a strong Likud. What happened? An Alliance with Shinui - evil Torah-haters," he said. Source
Unfortunately the most recent polls indicate Kadima ahead. Anything can change on election day (Tuesday).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.