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Beit Midrash
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In the world of the Torah scholars a meritocracy and democracy prevailed. All matters of halacha were decided by majority vote in the Sanhedrin. When the Sanhedrin was unable to meet to decide on important issues because of the heavy hand of Rome on the country, important issues remained unsolved and unanswered. Hillel and Shamai disagreed on three issues. The Houses of Hillel and Shamai, their students of the next few generations, when the Sanhedrin no longer met regularly, their disagreements grew to three hundred twelve in number. Again the matters were eventually decided democratically by the majority votes of the House of Hillel (this majority opinion was confirmed so to speak by a voice from Heaven itself.) Throughout the system of halacha we see that this basic rule of majority prevailing guides Jewish practice and Torah behavior. There is always a reckoning and remembrance of minority and dissenting opinions (and sometimes in later times when circumstances have changed, the minority opinion becomes itself the new majority opinion) but the principle that the Torah itself enunciated to always follow the majority opinion has always remained paramount. Throughout the long generations of halachic discourse this principle has remained the guiding rule in arriving at halachic decisions. There is always room for halachic innovation and individual opinions but the weight of history almost invariably takes into account the majority precedents in these matters. This may not be an example of democratic parliamentary behavior but it certainly is an example of the democratic spirit that pervades Judaism and Jewish life.
Jewish life, at least in Eastern Europe, also operated on the basis of democratic principles. In most cases the choice of the leaders of the community and of its rabbi was subject to public approval. Because of this perhaps overly democratic process the society of Eastern European Jewry was continually racked with bitter disputes and disagreements. Since there was really no way to settle all of these disputes they festered under the surface of Jewish life there. There was a sort of autonomous Jewish parliament that operated for a number of centuries in Eastern Europe called The Council of the Four Lands (Congress Poland, Galicia, Lithuania, Volhinya). However the delegates to this council were not elected by popular vote but rather represented the then current elite leadership of Jewish society. In the twentieth century Jewish political parties appeared in Eastern Europe that were subject to the popular vote and official elections. Choices for rabbis, and later here in Israel for the Chief Rabbinate became subject to the mechanism of elections, at least of voters from representative bodies of the general public. The issue of the vote for women, originally opposed by Rav Kook and others was eventually decided in favor of the women as women’s suffrage became the norm in all Western countries in the twentieth century. Winston Churchill once remarked that democracy and elections are an awful way to run a country. But it still remains the best way that man has yet devised to do so. Jewish practice over the centuries agrees with this political diagnosis
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
