“How the Candidate Relates to the Jews” is most Important, according to Raavad of the Eda Chareidis

Hagaon Rav Moshe Pearlstein, Raavad of the Eda Chareidis, answers questions about the United States presidential election during a question and answer session that was broadcast live at a Lakewood, New Jersey charity event.

Bechadrey learned that in the early hours of the morning, Rav Sternbuch sat in his Jerusalem Har Nof home and answered questions that were relayed to him in real time from Lakewood.

The Rav was asked about voting for Donald Trump: “Is one permitted to vote in the US elections for a person whose personal opinions about marriage and the like are against the Torah?”

The Rav answered, “We are uninterested in his private behavior, and in any case, we consider all non-Jews to be in this category. We are only interested in how he acts toward the Jews.”

The Rav was also asked if a Jew is permitted to use his non-Jewish name. He answered, “While it is beneficial to use one’s Jewish name, and as the Gemara says, ‘They did not change their names,” it is not forbidden.”

Someone else asked if one was permitted to photograph someone in the street against his wishes. The Rav answered that this would not be considered stealing, but nevertheless should not be done because it is forbidden to cause a fellow Jew anguish.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!