Feiglin’s party to elect first-ever Diaspora advocate

“This is important because it’s the first time anyone in Israeli politics gave practical expression to Israel being a Jewish state for all the Jews in the world," said Feiglin.

By GIL HOFFMAN
Updated: DECEMBER 17, 2017 12:50
Moshe Feiglin 520 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Moshe Feiglin 520
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Former Likud MK Moshe Feiglin’s Zehut Party will become the first-ever Israeli party to elect a candidate to represent the Diaspora, in a special election among 250 dues-paying party members around the world that will be held on Sunday.
Feiglin said he hoped Israel would change its laws and permit Jews around the world to vote for the Knesset. But meanwhile, he can do his part by having Diaspora Jews vote for one Knesset candidate, who will be fielded in the 10th slot on the party’s list in the next election.
“This is important because it’s the first time anyone in Israeli politics gave practical expression to Israel being a Jewish state for all the Jews in the world, even those who have not yet made aliya,” Feiglin told The Jerusalem Post on Friday afternoon. “Frankly, I don’t think any other party is capable of thinking outside the box.”
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In accordance with the law, all three candidates are citizens and residents of Israel: Former Uruguay chief rabbi Ben Zion Spitz, dog trainer David Sidman, and libertarian activist Rafi Farber.
Spitz, 48, is currently the vice president for corporate strategy for an America auto parts distribution company. He lives in Alon Shvut with his wife and seven children. He speaks fluent English, Spanish and Portuguese.
“I believe there is a need for Diaspora Jewry to have representation in the Israeli government,” Spitz said. “I bring experience in government involvement, foreign relations, representing Jewry, and policy-making.”
Sidman, 38, lives in Efrat with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
Besides his dog training business, he does online marketing for a hi-tech company. He used to have an online video blog that made fun of current events in Israel.
“They should vote for me because I am the most qualified to get out the party’s message about Feiglin’s solutions that will improve the lives of the Israeli people and prospective immigrants,” Sidman said. “I think it’s more important to have Zionists around the world who love Israel vote here than Arabs in Umm al-Fahm [in northern Israel] who hate Israel.”
Farber, 34, lives in Katzrin with his wife and four kids. He is a market analyst for freelance projects.
He was born in Miami and lived in New York, Boston, and next door to Feiglin in Karnei Shomron before he moved to the Golan Heights.
“Zehut International members should vote for me because I am most likely to shrink government,” Farber said. “I won’t be taking a salary. I will try to cut taxes, cut ministries, cut regulations, and anything else I can cut.”
Farber has also promised that if elected he would “annoy the crap out of Netanyahu.” He admitted that he only made that statement to attract attention.
“Nobody likes Netanyahu, though some people fear him and have a grudging respect for him,” he said. “I will work with anyone who can help me shrink the government in any way. With Feiglin you can know that everything he says is real.”