Satmar to Distribute Millions to Families Pledging Not to Vote in Elections
Satmar Hasidism is distributing millions of shekels to thousands of families in Israel who pledge not to vote in the upcoming Knesset elections, continuing its ideological boycott.
Satmar Hasidism is set to distribute millions of shekels to thousands of families affiliated with the Hasidic faction's hardline stance against participating in Israeli elections.
According to the established guidelines, anyone listed in the internal registry, known within the community as the "pure lists," is eligible for the grant. The primary condition for receiving the funds is an explicit declaration that family members will not vote in the upcoming Knesset elections.
Every family that meets the criteria and abstains from voting will receive a USD 200 check. The operation encompasses thousands of households across Israel, where abstaining from the ballot is a long-standing tradition.
The funds for the mass distribution originate from donations provided by wealthy ultra-Orthodox philanthropists residing abroad, with prominent donor Yoali Lando among the key contributors.
The distribution network operates through local community sextons and activists. The checks, dispatched from abroad, are handed over to the activists, who are responsible for delivering the money to families included on the registries who refuse to partake in the electoral process.
The Satmar Rebbe authorized the activists to carry out the distribution campaign. The initiative takes place ahead of the election date, aiming to allow families to receive the funds prior to the holiday.
The financial distribution forms part of a broader campaign waged by the Hasidic movement against the State of Israel and its institutions, as election boycotting remains a core ideological pillar since the state's inception.
