The use of polls is a convenient way to track public opinion on an important topic, so that the pollster can provide information to sponsors about how to proceed to their goals. Political polls are particularly ubiquitous today, especially in the run-up to an election.

Frankly, I hate political polls. The accuracy of a poll's results and predictions depends on three things: how the

The Left deceives itself as to what the country thinks and wants.

questions are asked; the events that precede them; and the sample of participants, which should come from every sector of a given population. The nationalist camp of Israel, both religious and secular parts, is the least represented in all the polls. Otherwise, why was the recent revelation, from major research, that close to 80% of Israelis have strong connections to the Land of Israel and Jewish tradition such a shock?

Also, it appears to me that in Israel these polls (as opposed to the research linked to above) serve several purposes, all favorable to the Left (short for what I call the Appeasement Camp) and to foreign interests.

By skewing poll participation toward the left-wing sector, the Left deceives itself as to what the country thinks and wants. This might appear to be acting against themselves; but at the same time, they give the Right (the Loyal Camp) the impression of minority status, which may have been true once, but not any more.

The result is that many politicians are afraid to have parties with policies clearly on the side of the nation, and the Loyal voters haven’t had anyone to vote for. This is certainly good for the Appeasers!

I have never participated in a political poll in Israel, so I don't know how well or badly the questions are written. In any case, I don't trust them, given the vested interest of those who sponsor them.

In the last couple of weeks before writing this article, I have been deciding between two parties. I belong to the Likud because of Moshe Feiglin’s presence there; I had been watching the Manhigut Yehudit faction for seven years prior to making Aliyah in 2007. What happened to him and others as a result of the Likud primary - he was elected to a “realistic” place and then bumped down to a far less realistic one by Binyamin Netanyahu - opened my eyes. It takes much more power than Feiglin has garnered over many years to take over a large party that waves its nationalist charter around before elections, but can’t be bothered to run a fair internal election that happens to favor the nationalist values it supposedly espouses. So, I looked at other parties.

When I considered the political impact of my vote, I did not want to consider who the polls favor, or who the big parties are, or even the party I belong to. Those things can change if the need is sufficiently severe and enough people care to make it so. I can quit the Likud, particularly if another party’s values turn out to be more suitable in practice, as well as in theory.

If we look at the qualities we want in our leaders - since we don’t elect individuals in Israel except in the primaries - and the platform of the party we choose, without looking at the polls, then most people will feel free to vote for the most appropriate party to meet the challenges we face. They will not select the most politically correct one and will not be afraid of the one most likely to gain power.

We seem to be in the position of our ancestors as they waited by the Sea of Reeds for Moshe Rabbeinu to make a move, just as the Egyptians were bearing down on them. The commentary to parashat Beshalach in my Chumash notes two responses to the sight of the Egyptians. Some chastised Moshe for bringing them out of Egypt and causing this problem. After all, it would have been better to continue to serve Egypt than to risk their lives in the wilderness.

The others cried out to HaShem. On command from Him, Moshe raised his hand to command the sea to split. Nachshon ben Aminadav, of Judah's tribe, was first to jump in, with the water coming up to his neck. Until then, the water had not moved.

How will we respond to our “Sea of Reeds” moment? Will we panic because the agenda of the big left-wing parties, though proven unsafe for our people, is the one we’re accustomed to? Will we freeze like a deer in the headlights

Ichud HaLeumi, a combination of five of the most nationalistic parties, is the only real alternative.

because the big right-wing parties seek partnership with the Left, and don’t encourage a strong right-wing? Will we give in and vote for the party that will get along best with the United States and the United Nations?

Or will we choose a right-wing party with pure motives, religiously diverse leadership and oversight, a strong patriotic agenda, a fully developed plan, people who can write law and will use their skill to free our people from the obstacles we are currently facing, and with a strong connection to HaShem? Is there such a thing?

It finally arrived a few weeks ago. The renewed National Union party (officially called HaIchud HaLeumi), a combination of five of the most nationalistic parties, is the only real alternative for those who understand Israel's situation. It is one thing to hear a lot of pretty words, and believe lofty promises, none of which will be kept. It is another thing to hear the things we really need to hear from people we trust. It is up to all of us to act appropriately and overwhelmingly support them at the voting booth.

The ensuing victory will be a very fitting way to begin the week of parashat Yitro.