Elections in Brazil scheduled for Simchat Torah: Rabbis' appeals and the surprising support for Lula

The "Jews for Democracy" collective in Brazil published a public petition expressing official support for the re-election of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his running mate Geraldo Alckmin in the presidential elections. The publication was accelerated following the announcement by Senator Flávio Bolsonaro — son of former President Jair Bolsonaro — that he would appoint Dr. Claudio Lottenberg, president of the Israelite Confederation of Brazil (Conib), as Minister of Health if he wins. Members of the group sought to clarify that Lottenberg does not speak on behalf of the entire Jewish community in the country and that many within it oppose the Bolsonarist movement.

The upcoming elections in Brazil are sparking a wide discussion among the Jewish community not only because of the political tension, but also because of their date: the first round is scheduled to take place in the midst of the Simchat Torah holiday. This proximity of dates creates a complex halachic and public challenge for observant Jews, as the laws of the holiday prohibit the use of electrical appliances — including the electronic ballot boxes used in Brazil — as well as traveling and writing.

Against this backdrop, figures and representatives in the Jewish community appealed to the election authorities in Brazil with a request to consider postponing the voting date or finding adapted solutions, in order to allow the religious public to exercise their civil and democratic right without being forced to violate the holidays.

In the manifesto supporting Lula, which has already gathered over 1,200 signatures from lecturers, jurists, intellectuals, and prominent artists, the signatories warn against the erosion of fundamental values:

"In the face of the recurring threat to the fragile democracy we have built in Brazil, we openly stand with the Lula and Alckmin ticket. We cannot accept as a natural part of the democratic discourse proposals for emergency regimes, the persecution of social groups, or concepts that turn political opponents into enemies and adopt violence as a project."

The signatories — including well-known figures such as historian Lilia Schwarcz, former minister Carlos Minc, and lawyer Fabio Tofic Simantob — note that the historical memory of the Jewish people drives them to action:

"We are signing this manifesto also in memory of our history. We know what it means when a society gradually accepts tyranny and persecution. Our memory obliges us to defend human rights, the SUS (public health system), racial equality, and social justice."

The document concludes that the support for Lula does not stem from a perception of Brazilian democracy as perfect, but from a recognition of the importance of protecting the democratic framework, within which alone one can continue to fight for these rights.