Democracy in the Tanach

This month's meeting of the Men’s Rosh Chodesh Lunch Club had as its guest speaker Dr Yael Ziegler, Rosh Beit Midrash at Matan Women’s Institute for Torah Studies and the author of two major tomes on Tanach, one on Megillat Rut and the other on Megillat Eicha. The subject of her lecture for Rosh Chodesh Tammuz was 'Democracy in the Tanach’ -- a title that promised some surprises since anyone who is familiar with the canon of holy Jewish texts will know that the concept of democracy as an ideal form of government is nowhere to be found.

Having confessed that democracy as we know it is not a bible-based label, Dr Zeigler built her case on the thesis that Judaism, as evidenced by Tanach, establishes and endorses values and attitudes that themselves underpin democracy -- and indeed any other form of government advocated for the Jewish people. 

First of these values is that of human dignity: we are all created betzelem Elokim. in the image of Hashem, and this proposition makes no distinction based on age, gender, or status. Acceptance that we are all created betzelem Elokim carries with it an obligation to protect the vulnerable and minorities, as halachah requires. This commitment to the value of every human life is in sharp contrast with the values reflected in the laws of other ancient societies, where economic rather than moral considerations were foremost and the murder of an individual was addressed as a question of how much financial compensation the victim's family was prepared to accept.

The second of these values was that of due process before the law. Justice must be dispensed on the basis of a proper investigative process, and judicial proceedings should be based on impartiality as between disputing parties, leaning neither towards the favor of the rich or the preference for the poor.

The third value reflected in the Tanach is that of civic responsibility. Our duties towards other people extend beyond simply preventing ourselves from harming them but lean towards proactive measures. The return of lost property and assisting another whose donkey is overburdened illustrate this as, on a different level, does the confession of the eglah arufah.

Dr Ziegler then led the audience through the various forms of leadership that were tried throughout the days of the Tanach. It was plain that none was perfect in practice and that the takeaway message was that we should be suspicious of all power, regardless of its form, if it does not match up to the Tanach's underlying values. 

The grand finale of Dr Ziegler's talk was a visit to Megillat Rut and a close examination of its contents. This revealed that the ideal form of leadership is one in which the leader serves the people to the point at which he empties himself out of any personal agenda and devotes himself to the people whom he leads.

You can watch and listen to Dr Ziegler's lecture here.