Jerusalem elects secular mayor http://www.jta.org/ENTRY_PERMALINK_HERE/jerusalem-elects-secular-mayor/ The victory by secular businessman Nir Barkat in Jerusalem’s mayoral elections was greeted with relief by Israelis concerned about the increasing fervently Orthodox character of the city. en-us uheilman@jta.org Copyright 2008 2008-11-12T;03:11:00-05:00 Comment by Maskil altneuland@gmail.com Fantastic news, but don’t be complacent! The election of Nir Barkat as the new mayor of Jerusalem is wonderful news, but his supporters should not allow themselves to become complacent.  Causes for concern include: - Not having obtained a majority of the seats in the City Council.  This could allow the opposition to derail efforts to bring Jerusalem back into the fold. - Although voter turnout was better than expected, an even higher turnout may be required to repeat this feat.  (In 2003, there was an 80% Haredi turnout behind their candidate.  This time around, support for the eventual Haredi candidate was not universal.) This is almost certainly the last opportunity Jerusalem’s voters will have to turn back the black tide and transform Jerusalem once again into a city: - that belongs to all its residents - that is able to take its place as Israel’s eternal (if not undivided) capital - that is adopted as the emotional and spiritual capital of the entire Jewish people Fantastic news, but don’t be complacent!

The election of Nir Barkat as the new mayor of Jerusalem is wonderful news, but his supporters should not allow themselves to become complacent.  Causes for concern include:
- Not having obtained a majority of the seats in the City Council.  This could allow the opposition to derail efforts to bring Jerusalem back into the fold.
- Although voter turnout was better than expected, an even higher turnout may be required to repeat this feat.  (In 2003, there was an 80% Haredi turnout behind their candidate.  This time around, support for the eventual Haredi candidate was not universal.)
This is almost certainly the last opportunity Jerusalem’s voters will have to turn back the black tide and transform Jerusalem once again into a city:
- that belongs to all its residents
- that is able to take its place as Israel’s eternal (if not undivided) capital
- that is adopted as the emotional and spiritual capital of the entire Jewish people

]]> 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 Comment by Eliyahu eagreen@gmail.com Heilman divides Jerusalem’s Jewish population into Orthodox and secular. However, the National Religious Jews mainly voted for Barkat who was supported by their leadership. We here draw different distinctions than Heilman does. Orthodox should mean both Haredi [like Meir Porush] but also National Religious. Heilman divides Jerusalem’s Jewish population into Orthodox and secular. However, the National Religious Jews mainly voted for Barkat who was supported by their leadership. We here draw different distinctions than Heilman does. Orthodox should mean both Haredi [like Meir Porush] but also National Religious.

]]> 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 Comment by Arnold Rosenzweig ar@jhvonline.com Dear JTA, Apparent election of Jerusalem’s new mayor?--and that becomes JTA’s instant fact?. He’ll probably win, all right--but that could have been said about Dewey. “Dewey defeats Truman” appears to be your guiding philosophy. AR down South, speaking only for myself Dear JTA,
Apparent election of Jerusalem’s new mayor?--and that becomes JTA’s instant fact?. He’ll probably win, all right--but that could have been said about Dewey. “Dewey defeats Truman” appears to be your guiding philosophy.
AR down South, speaking only for myself

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