Rabbi Chaim Drukman affirms Israel’s democracy is valuable, yet its eternal Jewish essence must always stand above fleeting majoritarian will.
Can a state built on Torah principles also function as a modern democracy?
Rabbi Chaim Drukman, one of Israel’s greatest spiritual leaders, answered this timeless question with wisdom, balance, and conviction: Yes — but only when democracy recognizes its moral limits and never tries to replace the eternal Jewish soul of Israel.
In his landmark work “Step by Step”, Rabbi Drukman explores how Torah and majority rule can coexist without contradiction, provided both serve a higher purpose — the fulfillment of Israel’s divine destiny.
Democracy Through the Lens of Halakha
The Torah itself establishes the principle of majority rule: “Do not follow a majority to do evil, but follow the majority for good” (Shemot 23:2).
Rabbi Drukman cites classic authorities like the Rashba and Rosh, who ruled that communities have the right to enact regulations by majority vote, even in non-halakhic matters. Public order, he explains, requires collective responsibility — but it must always remain anchored to Torah morality.
As the Rashba wrote, communities may “make rules and agreements like Torah law” as long as they uphold justice. Similarly, Rav Kook taught that when there is no king, authority reverts to the people — meaning that a democratically elected government may act in place of royal leadership, so long as it represents the nation’s ethical and spiritual calling.
Thus, democracy is not foreign to Torah; it is an instrument of divine governance, when guided by righteousness and truth.
Israel’s Jewish Identity Above All
Rabbi Drukman reminds us that Israel was founded as a Jewish State, not a mere democracy. The word “democracy” does not even appear in the Declaration of Independence, while “Jewish State” is declared proudly and explicitly.
Democracy, he teaches, is valuable — but it cannot redefine Israel’s soul. “If, heaven forbid,” Rabbi Drukman warns, “a democratic majority were to declare that Israel is no longer a Jewish State, we would all be obligated to resist it.”
No majority, however large, has the right to erase Israel’s covenantal essence. The Torah itself limits democracy: “Do not follow a majority to do evil.” A Jewish democracy must therefore live within the eternal boundaries of halakha and morality — not above them.
Struggle Without Hatred
Rabbi Drukman’s vision is also deeply humane. Those who oppose Israel’s Jewish character are not enemies, he stresses, but brothers “acting from misunderstanding, not malice.”
Disagreement, even deep ideological struggle, must always remain peaceful, legal, and respectful. Violence and hatred are foreign to the Torah’s path.
In his view, Israel’s restoration is not a single miracle but a divine process — “a Redemption of light and shadow,” unfolding step by step. The challenge for this generation is to advance that process with faith, wisdom, and courage, ensuring that democracy serves the Torah — not replaces it.
The Eternal Balance
For Rabbi Drukman, the answer is clear:
A Jewish and democratic state is not a contradiction — as long as democracy remains the servant, and never the master, of Israel’s eternal mission.
