Torah Im Derech Eretz: Rabbi Dr Isaac Breuer's Moriah pt 15: Torah Judicial, Legislative, Executive

Moriah by Rabbi Dr Isaac Breuer

Meeting Purpose

To define the Jewish people's national mission and the nature of the "State of Torah."

Key Takeaways

• The "State of Torah" (Medinat HaTorah) is the ultimate goal. It's a unique union of the Nation of Torah (Am HaTorah) and the Land of Torah (Eretz HaTorah), where God's will is the sole sovereign authority.
• The mission is societal, not just individual. While individual perfection is possible, the Jewish people's purpose is to act as a nation in history, influencing the world through a "spiritual conquest" of the land.
• The State of Torah is a "divine protest" against human rebellion. It functions as a model society where God's will is the only authority, contrasting with the "curse of diplomacy" and the power struggles of other nations.
• God holds all three branches of government. The state's constitution is defined by the verse, "Hashem is our Judge, Hashem is our Lawgiver, Hashem is our King," with human leaders serving only as His agents.

Topics

The National Mission: From Desert to History

• Desert vs. Land: The desert was a place for individual perfection, but the national mission requires a historic life in Eretz Yisrael.
• Societal Purpose: Judaism's place is in human history, not isolation.
  • Why: Only a nation can fully actualize the Torah's potential from theory to practice.
  • Avraham's Precedent: His concern for Sodom and Gomorrah indicates a national responsibility for the world, a task too large for most individuals.
• "Divine Protest": The Jewish people's role is to be a divine protest against human rebellion.
  • Goal: A "spiritual conquest" of the land, not just physical occupation.
  • Why Eretz Yisrael: Its location at the crossroads of continents (Asia, Africa, Europe) forces interaction, preventing isolation.

The "State of Torah" (Medinat HaTorah)

• Three Unities: The state is the product of three unities:
  1. Unity of Name (Ichud Shem): The Nation of Torah (Am HaTorah).
  2. Unity of Place (Ichud Kan): The Land of Torah (Eretz HaTorah).
  3. Unity of Purpose: God's will (Ratzon Hashem), which governs the nation in the land.
• Distinction from Medinat Yisrael: The current State of Israel is not a Medinat HaTorah because its definition of Judaism is not based on Torah.
• Unique Structure: Unlike other nations where the people are absorbed by the state, the Nation and Land of Torah are distinct, eternal entities.
  • Analogy: A marriage, where two separate partners unite to fulfill a shared destiny.
  • Significance: The state is an expression of Judaism, but Judaism itself exists independently of the state.

The Constitution of the State of Torah

• Core Principle: The state's constitution is defined by the verse, "Hashem is our Judge, Hashem is our Lawgiver, Hashem is our King."
• Three Branches of Government: God holds all three authorities:
  • Judge (Shoftenu): Judicial branch.
  • Lawgiver (Mekokainu): Legislative branch.
  • King (Malkenu): Executive branch.
• Contrast with Other Nations:
  • No "Brazen Nation": No power struggles between states.
  • No "Curse of Diplomacy": No language used to conceal thought.
  • No Human Sovereignty: Only God's will rules, with human leaders acting as His agents.
• Justice for the Poor: The state's laws are specifically designed to protect the impoverished and save them from oppression.