Sheetrit has a long record of hostility to religious issues, but in Kadima that might be considered a 'positive'. The people who vote for Kadima are either apathetic or hostile to religious issues. That was one of the founding principles of the party.

This must be a joke. Sheetrit is one of the most anti-religious figures in the entire political scene! Livni, I don't know. Mofaz is Mizrachi, so it seems logical that (like most 'non-religious' Mizrachim) he is closer to Judaism than the Ashkenazi candidates. Dichter, I don't know either, but I know that his opinions on security-related issues certainly do make sense. If I had to choose between them, I would go for Dichter. #1: Dichter #2: Mofaz #3: Livni #4: Sheetrit Oh, and I'm 'haredi', I might add. Also, the fact that Livni is a woman didn't influence my thoughts here at all. I'm from chu"l and I'm quite used to women being involved in politics; nothing weird about that. And about halacha: the entire Zionist state is against halacha, so what do I care about the PM being a woman?

Is this a serious question? Everyone of these candidates have been associated with and willing to rob world-wide Jewry of their Judaism, sellout the country to Moslem aspirations, and instituting pogroms against Jews unwilling to give up their homes. How many of this line-up even perform the mitzvah of 'visiting their sick, dying hero Sharon, who is rotting between life and hell? The deception in promoting retreat to Jews as a means of achieving peace is a crime against humanity, which no matter what percentage they may obtain in a survey will scar them and their offspring for life.

but either way you prefer, it is a nonsensical criterion.

I once heard a story that Menachem Begin went witha delegation of Israeli politicians to a foreign event. Kosher food was provided. The other politicians ate the non-kosher food and laughed at Begin for eating only from the kosher table. "Who are you trying to fool. We know you don't keep kosher." Begin soberly replied,"true, but I am here representing the Jewish people." Find one politician today who does that. After being elected, Olmert spent 1/2 an hour sayng what he was going to do for the Palestinain people. Only in Israel.

Why should the Prime Minister of Israel have to be the "Universal Jew?" If Begin wasn't kosher, why should he have to pretend to be? Just the same way that Bibi Netanyahu walked to an Orthodox synagogue in NYC one Saturday in another show of phony religious observance. There's no sin in Israelis not being religious. The only sin is the hypocrisy of pretending they are.

I don't think every Jew, let alone every politician, should be torah observant. But a politician, by definition, represents something. He has relinquished a large portion of his personal self and now has become a symbol for a large group of people.

This makes me laugh!! Who CARES who is closest to Judaism? They all work for the State of Israel, they all contribute in one way or another and they live here. So, who fuckin' CARES how Jewish they are?

If it says 'Jewish' in their Identity Cards (the older ones have it) then that's good enough for me. Who CARES how religious they are? At least they don't pretend to be what they are not.

that they don't care..have the most to say. Boring convertable stuff I say.