Q&A: Judaism
Judaism
Question
Hello Rabbi,
How can Judaism be reconciled with the values of democracy and equal rights?
For example, the Talmud calls gentiles a people similar to a donkey (I was always in doubt whether the ayin there is pronounced with a patach or a hiriq; I’d be glad if the Rabbi would address that), or for example the law that a religious court flogs him until he says, “I am willing.”
Answer
First, who said it can be? Second, who said it has to be? Third, the question is how you define democracy. Simply speaking, democracy is a system of government and not necessarily liberal values and egalitarian treatment. Flogging by a religious court is entirely compatible with democracy. I don’t see how this is different from any punishment given to criminals in democratic legal systems.
That contradicts democracy because it conflicts with freedom of religion.