Political Power: Good or Bad? | Shoftim 5784

There is no force on earth as powerful and transformative as political power.

When all the machinations of the state through political leadership are galvanized, it is an unmatched and unparalleled force of good and, G-d forbid, evil. Examples in history abound, the most infamous, of course, is the Nazi regime who caused the death of not only 6 million Jews, but 60 million civilians across Europe – a country galvanized for death and destruction. Soon thereafter, there was the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, the rebuilding of Europe, an incredible act of good almost unparalleled in human history.

It is this dichotomy at the heart of political leadership, which makes the mitzvah to appoint a king – which appears in this week’s parasha – so contradictory and full of so much ambivalence. On the one hand it is a mitzvah, as Rambam rules: it is an ideal mitzvah and the first collective one the Jewish people have to fulfil when they come into the Land. But the Abarbanel, who was close to the kings in Spain and Portugal, and saw the challenges and the misuse of power, says it is not ideal and perhaps even a necessary evil, something we would prefer to do without.

This contradiction and ambivalence exists because at the heart of political power, there is so much concentrated power in their hands. For this reason, our parasha is clear on the division of powers – no one has absolute powers. The king has certain powers, the courts have certain powers, the Navi (Prophet) has certain powers, and so does the Kohen Gadol (High Priest).

As we continue to struggle in Israel politically, it is absolutely clear that neither the political leadership nor the courts should have absolute power. The power belongs to the people, and the people have to find those mechanisms where the power is fairly and equally split. Then, ultimately, the absolute power at the heart of a country and state will be divided in the correct way. We hope and pray that this balance of power is achieved so we can forge a transformative and positive society moving forward.