Saturday Caucus Discriminates against Observant Jews

Rabbi Daniel Rockoff of Orthodox Congregation Beth Israel Abraham Voliner estimates there about 250 Sabbath-observant families in Johnson County, Kansas.

In Kansas, both the Democrats and the Republicans have moved toward Saturday caucuses in hopes of picking up more votes. But when voters in Kansas make their presidential picks tomorrow, some religious minorities were inadvertently cut out of the political process.

“A Sabbath observer in Judaism in the Orthodox tradition is someone who would walk to the synagogue on Saturday and Friday night,” says Rabbi Daniel Rockoff of Congregation Beth Israel Abraham Voliner. “Someone who wouldn’t write with a pen or use technology or answer phone calls.”

Rockoff says a strict interpretation of Jewish law would prevent many members of his congregation from caucusing.

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Ariadna: I have read it so you don’t have to, but if you get a rise out of their self-obsession, read on here: When A Saturday Caucus Means No Voting For Orthodox Jews