The language of tomorrow – Chief Rabbi Goldstein’s 4 voting tips

August the third is billed as South Africa's most important election since 1994. It's the first democratic election where the opposition parties are pushing the envelope of the ruling ANC. And while polls show close battles in the major metropol areas, Brexit is an example of why pre-election polls should be taken with caution. Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein, is the first Chief Rabbi of South Africa to be born in the country, and is the youngest ever to be appointed to the post. Rabbi Goldstein's election message is transcribed below, where he draws on the Torah, which speaks in the language of tomorrow. The Book of Exodus describes four criteria by which leaders where appointed at the time and believes we can use those exact four criteria, for how we cast our vote on Wednesday. – Stuart Lowman

My fellow South Africans, we are on the brink of another historic election and after 22 years of freedom and democracy, we can all take great pride in the accomplishment of the fact that democracy is part of the very rhythm of life here in South Africa and as we do to exercise this vote, we shouldn't take it for granted. When we walk into that voting booth, we are exercising real power – the power to choose the men and women who govern this country – and when we exercise power, we need to do so with real integrity and consideration and not just to vote in a knee-jerk fashion by affiliating to a particular party 'because that's how we've always voted'.

We need to give real thought to how we intend to cast this vote and we need guidance. Where do we turn to for guidance? We can look in the Torah or in the Bible because when Moses appointed leaders in the desert, he did so on the advice of his father-in-law Jethro. The Book of Exodus describes four criteria by which he appointed the leaders of the time and we can use those exact four criteria mentioned in the Bible, for how we cast our vote.

Firstly, it says hayil – people of ability. The first criteria has to be someone who can really get the job done. There is so much challenge in ensuring that our cities and towns are governed properly. We need to find people of ability who are able to do the job.

Then it says yare – people who fear G-d. That means people with real integrity who do the right thing, not because they're afraid of getting caught but because it's the right thing and they know that one day they'll have to answer before G-d for the right and wrong, which they do and also, people of compassion because the Talmud teaches us that G-d is a G-d of compassion. So too, if we truly fear G-d, we must be people of compassion, exactly like G-d.

Anshe Emet – people of truth, people of real integrity who would never tell a lie and will be honest with us as the voters and the people of this country.

Finally, emeth – people who hate unfair gain. Note the language of the Bible. It says 'people who hate unfair gain; not only will they not take gain, which is unfairly gotten by them but they actually hate it'. It's something, which they despise and so we need leaders who will despise unfair gain and corruption – leaders who are people of integrity, of strength, of ability, and who fear G-d. These are the criteria by which we should exercise our vote. If we elect people like that, we will continue to build a great country together.