MitzVote: Civic Engagement in Judaism

(2) Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou bear witness in a cause to turn aside after a multitude to pervert justice;

(4) Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all the captivity, whom I have caused to be carried away captive from Jerusalem unto Babylon: (5) Build ye houses, and dwell in them, and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; (6) take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply ye there, and be not diminished. (7) And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray unto the LORD for it; for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

But they fell on their faces and said, “O God, Source of the breath of all flesh! When one man sins, will You be wrathful with the whole community?”

(2) Rabbi Chanina, the Deputy High Priest, says: Pray for the welfare of the government, for were it not for the fear of it, man would swallow his fellow alive.

With regard to Bezalel’s appointment, Rabbi Yitzḥak said: One may only appoint a leader over a community if he consults with the community and they agree to the appointment, as it is stated: “And Moses said unto the children of Israel: See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah” (Exodus 35:30). The Lord said to Moses: Moses, is Bezalel a suitable appointment in your eyes? Moses said to Him: Master of the universe, if he is a suitable appointment in Your eyes, then all the more so in my eyes. The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to him: Nevertheless, go and tell Israel and ask their opinion. Moses went and said to Israel: Is Bezalel suitable in your eyes? They said to him: If he is suitable in the eyes of the Holy One, Blessed be He, and in your eyes, all the more so he is suitable in our eyes.

The residents of a town can force one another (even the minority can force the majority - Rabbneu Yerucham 6:31) to put up a wall with gates and a bolt for the town; and to build a synagogue and to buy a book of the Torah, Prophets and Writings so that anyone from the community may read from them. Gloss/Rema: And the same is true for all the needs of the town and see Orachot Chaim 55 - Laws of Hiring a Cantor for the People of the Town; and also ibid., 53. And the residents of the town can force one another to provide hospitality for guests, distribute charity to them and to contribute to the charity container (Mordekhai on Bava Barta: Chapter 1; Teshuvot Maimoni on Mishneh Torah, Acquisition 59). And see above Choshen Mishpat 4 and Choshen Mishpat 7 regarding whether if the people of the town have a case with an individual, they can judge him. And... And regarding expenses that were spent to get rid of a talebearer, all of the residents of the town are obligated to give towards this (Rosh in a responsum, Principle 6: 21, 27 and repeated below Choshen Mishpat 288). And with a matter that the community is not able to be in agreement about, all the heads of households that pay taxes should convene and accept upon themselves that each one proclaim his opinion for the sake of heaven, and [then] go according to the majority. And if the minority [refuses to go along], the majority can force them [to comply] - even through the laws of the idolaters - and to extricate money form them, and they must give their portion. And backed by the ban (cherem), the opinion of one who refuses to state his opinion is nullified, and we follow the majority of those stating their opinion (Responsum of Mohoram, Sefer Kinyan 27; Hagahot Maimoniot on MT, Prayer 11). And see Yoreh Deah 256, as to when he is obligated to give to the charity container.