Religious Parties Unite!

In order to fully represent the religious concerns of all Jews the world over for the continued free access to holy sites throughout the West Bank and especially enhancing freedom of worship at the Temple Mount, the religious parties must unite to offer one loud and clear voice that accurately expresses worldwide Jewish religious aspirations, rather than through many small voices that sometimes are at odds with each other, asking for things that appear to be at the polar opposite of the other party.

This is what needs to be done...

First on the Rabbinical level, a Bais Din (rabbinical court) of 5 or most likely 7 of the most premiere politically outspoken and heeded sages should formed. Each of these rabbis would then select an alternate rabbi to fill in for themselves if they are unable to continue in their duties. This advisory council of rabbis will increase the collective power of rabbinical thought, even through their surrendering of the great deal of individual power that they currently hold over their respective parties. Having this bais din of rabbis will mitigate libel (loshon hora) against individual rabbis, as it will be perceived that it is the Torah itself that is speaking, not any one person with any single agenda. The perceived agenda would then be Hashem/God's will alone. Imagine the sanctification of God's Holy Name (Kiddush Hashem)!

Second, all parties that revere the advice of the rabbis should unite into a single party. This small council of rabbis will replace the large body of less renown rabbinical advisers who currently offer direction. All those current rabbis and members of all the parties involved in this United Religious Party will instead hold a single conference to vote on political advice to give to the executive bais din of 5 to 7 gedolim (great sages) mentioned above. Except for those great rabbis on the executive bais din, all members of such a conference should run according to the concept of one man, one vote. But the lone communication point to the members of Knesset should be via the executive bais din. A single voice, a single direction.

Third, the political leaders chosen to become members of Knesset should still be chosen by the will of the people, the executive bais din should have the right to veto a candidate's eligibility (which would take place quietly, before the votes of the party voters are cast). An announcement can be made before the vote of people who have decided at the last minute to not run after all (whether truthfully it is of their will or of the bais din's command will not be disclosed) which would be a nice way to exclude those that the bais din has rejected without embarrassing anyone in public.

Fourth, the candidates must be trustworthy and trusted. Trustworthy to do the will of the people and bais din, trusted to act without consent of even the executive bais din if national security, timely diplomacy, natural disasters or other such pressing matters preclude their taking the time to inquire of the most preferred methodology as per wishes of Bais Din.

Every party has its own bias. If Judaic religious freedom is to have the most effective advocacy, which is the very reason I started this blog in the first place, then it needs its own party to represent it. A party should not just be a clique that represents a single stream of constituents, rather it should be a representative body for all the people. All the people in this case, are all the religious people. Therefore the religious party of the State of Israel must be a religious party for all the religious Jewish people.