Election Roundup

Wow, I am so happy that the elections here are over! I don't even know who won yet, and frankly, I couldn't care that much. You know why? B/c of the following reasons:

1. No more Moshe Abutbol songs
2. My kids not singing the Moshe Abutbol theme song
3. No more election litter

Among other things I've noticed that the politics here, are way different than the US.

For starters, in the US, who gets elected to the city council doesn't really change the city that much. Your guy or some other, they are still going to get the basics done.

Here, it can make the difference of who is going to get a school building. I had a real negius to vote for one party, since the menahel of our school is there #2 guy. That means, he gets in, we probably will get a school (I wasn't worried about him getting elected though).

The gedolim appear to be used greatly in the elections. If you don't vote this way, like the gedolim say, you're going to gehinom, or you're a toavah, take your pick. On top of that, one party had brought one of the biggest gedolim in the country to come down to our city and "electioneer" for them, I mean, why waste his time to bring him down here, I'm sure he has better things to do than worry about the politics of Beit Shemesh. I'm not c"v knocking him, as I'm sure he was doing what he thought was best, but the people responsible, who got him to come down, it's not as if he is some big shot politician, who you want to bring down to get his endorsement. You want his endorsement, you go to him, don't bring him down here to get him dirty c"v.

Any, I'm happy they are over. we'll see who wins shortly...

Elections: What is going on here?!?!

Ok, now I figured that electioneering would be a bit different here that in the alter heim, however I never thought it would be quite like this.

We're here in the house getting the kids out of the shower an into bed, when we hear this music start playing. Sarah first asks me not to play the music until the children are in bed. I'm wondering who is blaring their music outside.

Then it starts getting louder, and the horns start going - no not those horns, the car horns! And not just one or tow, but a whole lot.

Then I hear Shweky singing real loud, and see something out of my office window.

Sarah called back to me that she sees some letters on the cars ayin daled . And I think that's strange, those are the letters of this new party in town call Tov.

The singing is getting louder.

The first cars I see coming up Refaim have tons of lights on them, which makes me first thing it's a hachnosos sefer Torah, but it's a recorded Shweky singing.

That can't be.

I then see the rest of this whole procession of cars, and they are bearing the letters ayin daled on then and "Yehi Tov" posters, and balloons. While all of the cars are beeping and honking their horns.

I'm thinking where in the world am I?!?! Is this how they plan on getting my vote? I know there is the whole adage of and press is good press, but c'mon!

Now I just have two conflicting emotions:
I am scared - there are still another 6 parties or so.
And why didn't they invite me!