SEPTEMBER 14, Yom Kippur, the holiest-of-holy days for Jews ... and PM Gillard called the federal election for that date. As a Jew, I cannot vote then; I cannot work or volunteer. I’m effectively disenfranchised, as are thousands of Jewish voters. We might be able to vote early, but we cannot engage fully in the election process.
I’m gobsmacked!
We Jews constitute a minority of voters, yet we have double-digit representation in at least two electorates – enough to swing results one way or another. Even though the so-called “Jewish vote” tends to vote Coalition over ALP 2:1, that’s no excuse to disenfranchise us all.
That the government can avoid footy matches and not avoid the holiest day on the Jewish calendar speaks volumes about Australia’s values: religion-of-sport rules supreme.
I’m disappointed beyond words by the government’s decision.
J. Bamberger, O’Connor ACT .
