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In First and Second Temple times the government of Israel was purely personal and in a sense dictatorial. With the establishment of monarchy by King David, it became dynastic even though the natural squabbles about succession were always present. However in First Temple times all of the kings were subject to the influence if not sometimes even the control of prophets. Even the string of wicked kings who ruled over the northern ten tribes of Israel was subject to the withering criticism and powers of the prophets such as Elijah and Elisha. Prophets could be persecuted and punished but they could not be ignored. Thus the people found their voice through the prophet who represented God, so to speak, and tradition and destiny. Even when the people chose to ignore the words of the prophets it was their choice and the consequences of that choice were clearly predicted to them by the prophet. So in a sense there was a rudimentary sense of democracy present then. People voted not through the ballot box but rather by their behavior and life choices. And in effect this is always the basic democratic principle of life - people do what they wish to do. It is the task of government today to inform people of the consequences of their individual behavior much as the prophets of old did. The distortion of our political system is that it rewards those who knowingly give false promises and erroneous prognostications about their future plans, policies and what the true consequences of these behaviors and policies are.
In Second Temple times the Jews lived under the rule of the Men of the Great Assembly, a parliamentary body that was appointed but not popularly elected; the Hasmonean kings who ousted the Greek rule; and finally under Roman governors and domination. The counterforce to the rulers was the presence of the rabbinic scholars - the Tanaim, both early and late - who represented the populace and the traditions of Israel. Though they themselves were not prophets they served as the substitute for the earlier prophets of First Temple times in forming public opinion and opposing tyranny and wrongheaded policies. In the long exile of the Jewish people popular democracy, in the sense of the modern understanding of the words including elections existed. Though there always was a ruling upper class the masses had the ability to either vote them out of power - eighteenth and nineteenth century kehilla life in Europe - or by simply forming new movements such as Hasidism which circumvented the existing power structure. In early twentieth century Europe the Jewish society fragmented into many different political parties each vying with the other through popular elections for the leadership of the Jewish society. This system has been imported into our modern day country of Israel with its multiplicity of parties and its intense rivalries. But as we say here, this is what is, so let us hope for the best and be realistic and hopeful at one and the same time.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
