by Yehuda HaKohen Art By Phillip Ratner While the Torah instructs the Jewish Nation to establish a holy kingdom over the Land of Israel, a just social order and healthy economy are two crucial ingredients to fulfilling this charge. Since modern Zionism’s early years, there has existed an intense struggle between the adherents of socialism and those favoring a capitalist economy.
Decades after the reestablishment of Jewish statehood, this conflict raged within Israeli society and formed deep social and political divisions. Although security threats, increased westernization and foreign pressure to shrink the country’s borders in recent decades has caused this issue to fade far into the political background, Israel still lacks the socioeconomic ideal necessary to serve as an example of morality and justice to other nations.
It is Israel’s mission to be a light to the world. Through being a “Kingdom of priests and holy Nation” the Jewish people are meant to educate mankind on how to run all facets of life according to HaShem’s highest ideal. The State of Israel must set an example of excellence to the rest of the world in every sphere of nationhood, from commerce and agriculture to warfare and social services. Israel must aspire to be a perfect nation that lives and breaths G-D’s Divine Truth in every area of life. The formula is not man-made but rather a sacred reality that transcends the limited perception of human beings. Only through being such a national light in the whole of Eretz Yisrael can the Hebrew Nation hope to bring mankind towards a future of genuine peace and universal fulfillment.
But in order for Israel to achieve this goal, it is necessary that we establish an economic system reflecting the morality and justice of our Torah. Because Israel is meant to serve as a national light to all humankind, the Jewish state must set a high moral standard for our national institutions and build a model society where people live in dignity, share responsibilities and conduct their affairs with a sense of compassion for one another.
“If your brother becomes impoverished and his means falter in your proximity, you shall strengthen him – proselyte or resident – so that he can live with you.” (VAYIKRA 25:35)
While the Torah rejects capitalism and most forms of socialism have proven flawed, both possess positive features from which Israel can benefit. But in order to arrive at a complete and perfect system, the Hebrew Nation cannot be limited to working with the choices offered by the gentile world. Rather than play by foreign rules, Israel must set our agenda in accordance with our Divine culture and tailor-make a new system in compliance with Torah Law – a system that will transcend the man-made contradictions and express the best and highest values in each model.
The Torah forbids us from allowing any Jew to fall into poverty. We are commanded to provide assistance to any and all of our brothers in need. While we can infer from much of the Talmud that the Torah supports certain elements of a free market, Israel is at the same time given many balancing statements that obligate us to take responsibility and provide for those less fortunate in our society. Helping the poor is not a recommendation but a commandment from HaShem and Divine expression of justice, no different than safeguarding the Sabbath or liberating Eretz Yisrael from foreign rule. The Jewish Nation must determine and implement clear financial solutions that will benefit both the collective society, as well as all of the individuals within. We must create an economic system that encourages personal initiative and limits government intrusion while at the same time promoting a sense of collective responsibility that will infuse our society with an overriding social consciousness. An order must be established in the Jewish state founded on the inherent morality of Israel and justice of Torah – an order where no person goes hungry and all live in friendship and mutual respect, setting an example of justice and perfection to mankind.
With Love of Israel,
-Yehuda HaKohen
Am Segula
