Alleged Voter Fraud In Haredi: a 'Get Out Of Hell Free' card

[brooklynite]

Failed Messiah:

The Shas Party is promising voters who vote for Shas "a pidyon ha-nefesh" (redemption of their soul; essentially a "get out of hell free card," in this case a "key to heaven&quot to be given by top Shas Party rabbis in exchange for the voter's vote for Shas. That Shas ad reportedly features the slogan, "those who choose Shas go straight to heaven" next to a photo of the party's late founder and spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who is venerated by Sefardim as a saint. Below that is the voter's "key to heaven." (Please see the photo posted below for the actual "key to heaven" card given Shas voters.)

This ploy was ruled to be illegal – no surprise because similar Shas Party ads and promises have been ruled illegal in previous elections. But because the penalty for cheating is so small, Shas keeps breaking the law with near impunity. Shas reportedly expressed "sorrow" over the the CEC's ruling against the ad and said that "kissing mezuzahs and wearing amulets is an integral part of the tradition of most Israeli citizens…we are proud of our traditions and reject suppression and incitement." This despite the fact that amulets given in exchange for voting for a political party have repeatedly over many years been ruled to be illegal.

[KamaAina]

1. Shas is not your average political party

it provides social services to low-income Israelis. It's as if the Salvation Army suddenly started running candidates here.

And why am I thinking about the medieval Catholics selling indulgences, a practice that led to the Reformation?