The gift before the ballot box: How the holidays became the Haredi campaign arena

Amid the election campaign, the High Holidays have become an intense campaign arena for the Haredi parties. MKs circulated among Hasidic courts, yeshivas, and Simchat Beit HaShoeva celebrations, seeking to strengthen ties with rabbis and the public. Commentator Israel Cohen explains that the physical presence during the holiday, when the public is free and the news focuses on events, gives politicians a rare opportunity to be seen and evaluated.

The 2026 election campaign has found the Haredi parties exploiting the High Holidays as an intense campaign arena. MKs, led by United Torah Judaism chairman Yaakov Asher, circulated among the courts of rebbes, yeshivas, and Simchat Beit HaShoeva celebrations, seeking to strengthen ties with rabbis and the public. Haredi commentator Israel Cohen explains that the holiday creates a rare opportunity: a free and celebrating public, with news focusing on festive events. Politicians are evaluated by rabbis and the public, and physical presence is seen as a measure of popularity. Alongside United Torah Judaism, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, and Aryeh Deri were also seen at various events. Rabbis conveyed clear messages during Sukkot, and discussions about politics continue in "kibbitz" conversations during Chol HaMoed. Cohen notes that the lull in arrests over the past month has reduced anger toward MKs, and the holiday allows the public to examine alternatives.