They Asked Us to Play the Game

Was listening to an askan explain why we have to be strategic…

And something inside me just died.

It’s not every askan mind you, but you know the type. 

Just the ones too big for their britches. 

I’ve heard this before.

We all have. 

Not from him.

From inside myself.

My own quiet voice that says,

“Be smart. Don’t be naive. This is how the world works.”

And then it dresses it up with the necessary line, 

“For the good of the community.”

“For our future.”

“For survival.”

And before you know it, Torah is no longer the standard.

Strategy is.

No one learns ביטחון.

Let’s just say it straight. 

We learn halacha.

We learn sugyos.

We can argue a Rashba and a Ketzos.

But Shaar HaBitachon?

We don’t touch it.

I mean a few of you have started, but that’s all new. 

The yeshivas and shuls haven’t caught up yet. 

Which is weird because litvaks sefardim and chassidim alike were learning Chovos halevavos for ages. 

Something must’ve gotten knocked loose in the past century. 

Can’t imagine what that could be. 

So we grow up with a Torah mind… and a goyish instinct.

And then the askanim step in.

With charts.

With access.

With connections.

With whispered urgency.

And we listen.

Because it sounds responsible.

“Vote for her.”

Why?

“She’ll help us.”

Does she stand for anything we stand for?

Silence.

“That’s not the point.”

Ah.

There it is.

The biggest lie in our community right now is this, 

We don’t need to follow our values, we just need to get what we want.

So we’ll back someone who spits on what we hold sacred…

because maybe…maybe…

we’ll get a favor.

A budget.

A policy.

A nod.

We call that hishtadlus.

It’s not.

It’s bargaining.

Even if we actually get something,  which we never do,  it still shmeks…

Many can’t even handle me saying this. 

Ther brains start melting and get contorted, and then bring some example of someone somewhere who did once get us something. 

Say you sold your soul without saying you sold your soul. 

Even if you get what you want, is it really worth it?

The Chovos HaLevavos already tore this apart.

Not with politics.

With truth.

You think the cause you start produces the outcome?

You think your move brings the result?

You think this candidate is the pipeline of your הצלחה?

You’ve already left the world of  ביטחון.

Let’s stop pretending.

No one is being “strategic.”

They’re afraid.

Afraid of losing influence.

Afraid of losing access.

Afraid of losing standing.

So they dress fear in a suit and call it responsibility.

And I get it.

I feel it too.

That tension.

The askan paints a pretty picture. 

Of what we could gain, what we might lose.

And for a second… it pulls you in. 

Because it feels real.

Because the needs are real.

Because the community is real.

But, since when does that override what הַשֶּׁם wants?

We forgot something simple.

Painfully simple.

No office decides your life.

No mayor feeds your family.

No governor protects your children.

No candidate controls your future.

לב מלכים ושרים ביד ה׳.

You still think that was just a cute line your first grade rebbe would say…

But voting!!! HISHTADLUS!!!!

So what is voting?

Not power.

Expression.

You walk in there not to win, but to stand. To show hakaras Hatov to the place that allowed us to live our standards. 

Not to kowtow to haters of Hashem

If someone aligns with Torah, you support them.

Even if they’re losing.

Especially if they’re losing.

Because now your vote is clean.

Now it’s not a move.

It’s a statement.

And if no one aligns?

Why contort yourself?

You don’t start calculating which poison tastes better.

You leave it blank.

And they’ll tell you,

“You’re throwing your vote away.”

No.

I’m refusing to sell it to the highest bidder. 

Even if it gets uncomfortable.

I know this approach costs.

We might lose influence.

We might get shut out.

We might be called naive.

Irresponsible.

Dangerous.

Good.

At least now we’re talking honestly.

A yid may never compromise his ביטחון, even if it costs him his standing in the community.

Read that again.

Not his comfort.

Not his access.

Not his invitations.

His standing.

That’s the test.

The moment you say, 

“We have no choice”

You already chose.

And it wasn’t Torah.

When you start leaving Hashem out of the equation you are in fact worshipping what is not Hashem. 

I’m not telling you not to think.

Think.

Evaluate.

Understand the system.

But only inside the גבולות of Torah. 

Is it better to vote for Stalin than Hitler?

Stalin is the lesser of two evils, no?

The second the system demands you step outside Torah

you don’t get smarter.

You get owned.

Hashem does not need your political maneuvering.

He doesn’t need your calculations.

He doesn’t need your compromises.

If something is meant for you it will come.

Through this candidate.

Through another.

Through a backdoor you never saw.

Or not at all.

And if not, then no vote would have helped you anyway.

Wake up.

We’re not here to play their game better.

We’re here not to be moved by it at all.

Walk in.

Vote your values.

Or don’t vote.

But don’t bow.

Not to pressure.

Not to fear.

Not to strategy.

The world will spin.

It always does.

Exactly as הַשֶּׁם wants it to.

And you?

You didn’t win.

You didn’t lose.

You stayed a yid.

That’s the only thing that matters on the ballot.