This past week, Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva if Philadelphia, wrote a letter to Rav Chaim Kanievsky regarding the question of voting in the WZO election.
The full text of the letter was reviewed by Matzav.com.
Rav Shmuel expressed in the letter that he had heard that Rav Chaim issued a “hora’as sha’ah” to permit voting in the WZO election. Rav Shmuel raised some of the issues that have been brought to the fore regarding this matter, including the fact that voting in the WZO is contrary to the mesorah of gedolei Yisroel of past generations, as well as the fact that in order to vote, one must become a member of the WZO and express affirmation of all that they stand for.
Rav Shmuel said that in light of this, some have wondered if Rav Chaim didn’t actually permit voting in the WZO or if he was perhaps relying on information provided to him by others in issuing his decision.
Rav Chaim responded to Rav Shmuel, writing, “Nechonim hadevorim. Kedai meod lehatzbia.” (What you wrote is correct. It is definitely worthy to vote.)
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
