Q&A: Does Judaism Allow the Existence of Democratic Values
Does Judaism Allow the Existence of Democratic Values
Question
To the Rabbi
There is a question that has been bothering me a great deal, and recently it has become even more acute in light of the elections. There are people who feel threatened by religion. The question is: A. is that fear mistaken? B. I have a feeling that as a religious person, it is not fair to take advantage of the freedom that democracy gives me to live by my values, knowing that if the power were in my hands, I would prevent those very people who enable this for me from living by their values.
I am aware that the Torah contains elements of freedom and liberty, and also that no one today is planning to impose a state governed by Jewish law. The question is whether, if there were an absolute religious majority here, would we preserve individual rights? Would we allow the secular minority freedom of religion, or would we establish a Sanhedrin that would stone Sabbath desecrators? Bottom line: even if we say that applying the Torah’s laws in their original form was said for the future, when the majority of the Jewish people is in the Land, etc. etc., if such a situation were created, it seems that we really would coerce minorities in a violent way.
And it is hard for me to live with that.
I would be happy to receive a response.
Thanks,
Haim
Answer
The concern definitely exists and is justified, at least to a large extent. But presenting the current situation as though exclusion and religious coercion are already happening is very exaggerated. The main question, in my view, is directed inward, into the religious world: to what extent, in a state with a religious majority, would coercion actually be practiced? In my opinion, it is not right to coerce even in such a situation. I believe these matters have already been discussed here more than once, and will also be discussed in the third book of the trilogy that is currently in preparation.