Kudos to rabbinical student Avi Mitzner for his help with researching this topic.
Religions tend to take credit for things they didn't do. This is like the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding who is convinced every word is connected to the Greeks and their culture. I won't make that same mistake: not everything about democracy is rooted in Jewish ideas. But some are. And they are HARD TRUTHS worth exploring. You'll either be inspired or ask me never to come back. But first...
הגה [...] כל צרכי ציבור שאינן יכולין להשוות עצמן יש להושיב כל בע"ב הנותנים מס ויקבלו עליהם שכל אחד יאמר דעתו לשם שמים וילכו אחר הרוב ואם המיעוט ימאנו הרוב יכולין לכוף אותן אפילו בדיני עכו“ם ולהוציא ממון על זה והם צריכין לתת חלקם והמסרב מלומר דעתו ע“פ החרם בטילה דעתו ואזלי‘ בתר רוב הנשארים האומרים דעתן.
Rama: For any community matter on which they cannot find common ground, they should convene all taxpayers, and they should agree that each will voice his view altruistically (literally: for the sake of Heaven), and they will follow the majority. But if a minority refuses [to follow] the majority, it is permissible to force them, even by order of 'star worshippers' (i.e. non-Jews), to pay their share to the tax collector selected. If one boycotts and refuses to offer one’s opinion (i.e. vote), then it is disregarded and the opinions of the majority remaining decide the matter.
But I thought it was all "tzedek, tzedek tirdof!" No, no, it's not.
But I thought it was all "tzedek, tzedek tirdof!" No, no, it's not.
Lesson 1: In a well-functioning democracy, no one is fully satisfied.
A judge must not decide in favor of poor people because of pity and compassion. But then again, the mighty don't get to consume the poor either.
(ב) לֹֽא־תִהְיֶ֥ה אַחֲרֵֽי־רַבִּ֖ים לְרָעֹ֑ת וְלֹא־תַעֲנֶ֣ה עַל־רִ֗ב לִנְטֹ֛ת אַחֲרֵ֥י רַבִּ֖ים לְהַטֹּֽת׃ (ג) וְדָ֕ל לֹ֥א תֶהְדַּ֖ר בְּרִיבֽוֹ׃ {ס}
(2) You shall neither side with the mighty/many to do wrong—you shall not give perverse testimony in a dispute so as to pervert it in favor of the mighty— (3)nor shall you show deference to a poor person in a dispute.
(ב) לא תהיה אחרי רבים לרעות - אם הם דנים שלא כדין לפי דעתך ואף על פי שלא יאמינו לך כי אם למרובים.
(2) לא תהיה אחרי רבים לרעות, if, in your opinion, the majority are about to commit an error in judgment, do not remain silent because they are the majority, but state your view. This applies even if you know beforehand that they will not accept your viewpoint but that of the majority.
(יט) לֹא־תַטֶּ֣ה מִשְׁפָּ֔ט לֹ֥א תַכִּ֖יר פָּנִ֑ים וְלֹא־תִקַּ֣ח שֹׁ֔חַד כִּ֣י הַשֹּׁ֗חַד יְעַוֵּר֙ עֵינֵ֣י חֲכָמִ֔ים וִֽיסַלֵּ֖ף דִּבְרֵ֥י צַדִּיקִֽם׃
(19) You shall not judge unfairly: you shall show no partiality...
Lesson 2: Corruption destroys democracies, that simple
(ח) וְשֹׁ֖חַד לֹ֣א תִקָּ֑ח כִּ֤י הַשֹּׁ֙חַד֙ יְעַוֵּ֣ר פִּקְחִ֔ים וִֽיסַלֵּ֖ף דִּבְרֵ֥י צַדִּיקִֽים׃
(8) Do not take bribes, for bribes blind the clear-sighted and upset the pleas of those who are in the right.
(יט) לֹא־תַטֶּ֣ה מִשְׁפָּ֔ט לֹ֥א תַכִּ֖יר פָּנִ֑ים וְלֹא־תִקַּ֣ח שֹׁ֔חַד כִּ֣י הַשֹּׁ֗חַד יְעַוֵּר֙ עֵינֵ֣י חֲכָמִ֔ים וִֽיסַלֵּ֖ף דִּבְרֵ֥י צַדִּיקִֽם׃
...you shall not take bribes, for bribes blind the eyes of the discerning and upset the plea of the just.
(א)לא תטה משפט. כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ: (ב)לא תכיר פנים. אַף בִּשְׁעַת הַטְּעָנוֹת; אַזְהָרָה לַדַּיָּן שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא רַךְ לָזֶה וְקָשֶׁה לָזֶה, אֶחָד עוֹמֵד וְאֶחָד יוֹשֵׁב, לְפִי שֶׁכְּשֶׁרוֹאֶה זֶה שֶׁהַדַּיָּן מְכַבֵּד אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ מִסְתַּתְּמִין טַעֲנוֹתָיו: (ג)ולא תקח שחד. אֲפִלּוּ לִשְׁפֹּט צֶדֶק (ספרי): (ד)כי השחד יעור. מִשֶּׁקִּבֵּל שֹׁחַד מִמֶּנּוּ אִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁלֹּא יַטֶּה אֶת לִבּוֹ אֶצְלוֹ לַהֲפֹךְ בִּזְכוּתוֹ: (ה)דברי צדיקים. דְּבָרִים הַמְצֻדָּקִים – מִשְׁפְּטֵי אֱמֶת:
(3) ולא תקח שחד You Shall Not Take Bribes — even if you [are going] to give a just judgment in favor of the [bribe] giver...As soon [the judge] has accepted a bribe from one of the parties, it is impossible for him not to incline his heart to him trying to find something in his favor.
A judge is forbidden to handle a case if he is related to one of the litigants or has any other personal relationship (Sanh. 3:4-5).
Other forms of corruption: money in politics
(יד) לֹא־תְקַלֵּ֣ל חֵרֵ֔שׁ וְלִפְנֵ֣י עִוֵּ֔ר לֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן מִכְשֹׁ֑ל וְיָרֵ֥אתָ מֵּאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ אֲנִ֥י יהוה׃
(14) You shall not insult the deaf, or place a stumbling block before the blind. You shall fear your God: I am יהוה.
Putting money in front of politicians, even the ones you like, is equivalent to "a stumbling block before the blind".It takes moral courage to do the thing democracy needs when it doesn't benefit you.
Putting money in front of politicians, even the ones you like, is equivalent to "a stumbling block before the blind".It takes moral courage to do the thing democracy needs when it doesn't benefit you.
“I felt that if we didn’t impeach, we’d just ingrain and stamp in our highest office a standard of conduct that’s just unacceptable.” -Representative M. Caldwell Butler
"I have made a solemn pledge to uphold the Constitution, and my oath of office requires me to do just that...I did not come to this decision lightly or happily. I did not come to this decision with joy or with glee. I have come to this decision with great sadness and a heavy heart." -Representative Kweisi Mfume
Lesson 3: Democracy should be boring. REALLY boring
(יח) שֹׁפְטִ֣ים וְשֹֽׁטְרִ֗ים תִּֽתֶּן־לְךָ֙ בְּכָל־שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יהוה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ לִשְׁבָטֶ֑יךָ וְשָׁפְט֥וּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם מִשְׁפַּט־צֶֽדֶק׃
(18) You shall appoint magistrates and officials for your tribes, in all the settlements that the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall govern the people with due justice.
(כ) צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יהוה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃ {ס}
(20) Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that your God יהוה is giving you.
Finally, the thing I like! Or do I?
Finally, the thing I like! Or do I?
(א)צדק צדק תרדף. הַלֹּךְ אַחַר בֵּית דִּין יָפֶה (ספרי; סנהדרין ל"ב):
(1) צדק צדק תרדף JUSTICE, JUSTICE (or RIGHTEOUSNESS RIGHTOUENESS) SHALT THOU PURSUE — go to (search after) a reliable court (Sifrei Devarim 144:14; Sanhedrin 32b).
The pursuit of justice is not about activism. It's about boring, government, wonky, suit-and-tie stuff. Activism is great, but it has to lead to structures that seek justice.
Tirdof is the word Rodef which is seeker, in the way a military would pursue in battle. It's that serious. We have to be that serious, about something THAT boring, because if not...
The pursuit of justice is not about activism. It's about boring, government, wonky, suit-and-tie stuff. Activism is great, but it has to lead to structures that seek justice.
Tirdof is the word Rodef which is seeker, in the way a military would pursue in battle. It's that serious. We have to be that serious, about something THAT boring, because if not...
(ב) רַבִּי חֲנִינָא סְגַן הַכֹּהֲנִים אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי מִתְפַּלֵּל בִּשְׁלוֹמָהּ שֶׁל מַלְכוּת, שֶׁאִלְמָלֵא מוֹרָאָהּ, אִישׁ אֶת רֵעֵהוּ חַיִּים בְּלָעוֹ. רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בֶן תְּרַדְיוֹן אוֹמֵר, שְׁנַיִם שֶׁיּוֹשְׁבִין וְאֵין בֵּינֵיהֶן דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה, הֲרֵי זֶה מוֹשַׁב לֵצִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים א) וּבְמוֹשַׁב לֵצִים לֹא יָשָׁב. אֲבָל שְׁנַיִם שֶׁיּוֹשְׁבִין וְיֵשׁ בֵּינֵיהֶם דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה, שְׁכִינָה שְׁרוּיָה בֵינֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלאכי ג) אָז נִדְבְּרוּ יִרְאֵי יהוה אִישׁ אֶל רֵעֵהוּ וַיַּקְשֵׁב יהוה וַיִּשְׁמָע וַיִּכָּתֵב סֵפֶר זִכָּרוֹן לְפָנָיו לְיִרְאֵי יהוה וּלְחֹשְׁבֵי שְׁמוֹ. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא שְׁנַיִם, מִנַּיִן שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ אֶחָד שֶׁיּוֹשֵׁב וְעוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה, שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא קוֹבֵעַ לוֹ שָׂכָר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איכה ג) יֵשֵׁב בָּדָד וְיִדֹּם כִּי נָטַל עָלָיו:
(2) Rabbi Hanina, the vice-high priest said: pray for the welfare of the government, for were it not for the fear it inspires, every man would swallow his neighbor alive.
Lesson 4: Piety is a great tool for democracies
(ב)איש את רעהו חיים בלעו. זה הענין ר"ל שיש לאדם להתפלל על שלום כל העולם ולהצטער על צער של אחרים. וכן דרכן של צדיקים כמו שאמר דוד ע"ה (תהלים ל"ה י"ג) ׳ואני בחלותם לבושי שק עניתי בצום נפשי׳ - שאין לאדם לעשות תחנוניו ובקשתו לצרכיו לבד אך להתפלל על כל בני אדם שיעמדו בשלום ובשלומה של מלכות יש שלום לעולם:
...a person should pray for the welfare of the entire world, and to be pained for the pain of others. So is the ways of the righteous, as David (of blessed memory) said: "As they were ill, my clothing was sackcloth, I suffered through a fast." (Psalms 35:13) - A person should not only make personal supplications and requests, but should pray for all people that they remain in peace. And through the peace (and stability) of the government, there will be peace throughout the world.
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, 1984
On reaching the shores of the United States; Jews found a safe haven. The rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights have allowed us the freedom to practice our religion without interference and to live in this republic in safety.
On reaching the shores of the United States; Jews found a safe haven. The rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights have allowed us the freedom to practice our religion without interference and to live in this republic in safety.
A fundamental principle of Judaism is hakaras hatov — recognizing benefits afforded us and giving expression to our appreciation. Therefore, it is incumbent upon each Jewish citizen to participate in the democratic system which safeguards the freedoms we enjoy. The most fundamental responsibility incumbent on each individual is to register and to vote.
Therefore, I urge all members of the Jewish community to fulfill their obligations by registering as soon as possible and by voting. By this, we can express our appreciation and contribute to the continued security of our community.