I’m a Jerusalemite, I’m ultra-Orthodox and I’m very sad. I’m not sad because secular candidate Nir Barkat defeated Orthodox candidate Meir Porush in the Jerusalem mayoral election Nov. 12. I’m sad because an internal ultra-Orthodox struggle prompted many community members to simply fight themselves, vote against Porush and bring about his loss.
I knew this defeat would come. I knew it the moment I read about the recording of Porush in an ultra-Orthodox event, saying that in 10 to 15 years there will be no more secular candidates. The fact that an Orthodox person was willing to share this sensitive information with secular media outlets said it all.
Porush’s rivals realized they were holding explosive material and were willing to do anything to bring him down, shatter his spirit and minimize his chances.
At that moment, I got it.
When someone inside the community is willing to do something like that and undermine the interests of the entire Orthodox sector in the gravest, crudest and most manipulative manner, the conclusion is clear: The battle had been decided.
Still, Barkat did not win. Barkat lost. He didn’t quite sweep the masses that he had promised would come out and vote against the Orthodox. He received — not because of anything he did — thousands of votes from ultra-Orthodox who merely wanted to hurt the Orthodox candidate. This was a protest vote, and I say it unequivocally: If it wasn’t for the internal strife, Barkat would still be dreaming.
Secular Jerusalemites, don’t be confused (and don’t take what I’m about to say too hard). Jerusalem isn’t yours. It really isn’t. Jerusalem is more ultra-Orthodox than ever, and this trend will only grow stronger. Barkat’s victory was a direct result of the internal Orthodox struggle. It is indeed a miracle that we ultra-Orthodox are such great fools.
I’m sorry to disappoint you, secular voters who wanted a change. You will get change, but the opposite of what you hoped for.
Jerusalem will become more Orthodox, more devout and worse for secular residents under a secular mayor. Barkat will be a mayor at the mercy of an Orthodox coalition. The implication is that the ultra-Orthodox will receive much more from him than in their rosiest dreams under an Orthodox mayor.
A secular mayor will not face the limitations faced by an Orthodox mayor — close scrutiny and legal advisers looking into every move. In the name of unity, fraternity and clinging to power, a secular mayor will give the Orthodox everything they want. After all, we know that without Orthodox backing, he cannot govern.
An Orthodox mayor would not dare close shops on Shabbat, because he’s Orthodox. A secular mayor won’t dare open stores on Shabbat, because it will prompt a mess. He won’t have the privilege of enjoying the quiet enjoyed by former Mayor Uri Lupolianski, Jerusalem’s first ultra-Orthodox mayor.
If Barkat hurts the Orthodox community even a tiny bit, it won’t only be the zealots of Meah Shearim who will come out and set the streets on fire.
The ultra-Orthodox will only gain from Barkat’s victory, because a secular mayor is good for the Orthodox and bad for the seculars.
The seculars will lose big time. If they would have realized how badly this loss will be, they would likely have come out en masse last week and flooded the polling stations with Porush ballots.
Right now, however, it’s a little too late. But don’t you worry, secular Jerusalemites. In five years, you’ll have the opportunity to rectify your mistake.
Mordechai Lavi is a resident of Jerusalem, an ultra-Orthodox media personality and a news broadcaster on Kol Chai Radio, an FM station based in Bnei Brak.