Judaism and Democracy

What is the relationship between Jewish tradition, on the one hand, and modern conceptions of democracy, on the other? In this 6-part series from Rabbi Shai Held, we'll consider this question from multiple directions, avoiding oversimplifications while probing the varied ways an ancient tradition engages with a modern moral and political ideal. We will explore issues including the Bible's relationship with monarchy, whether Rabbinic tradition offers models for democratic thinking, how medieval Jewish philosophers thought about the ideal relationship between religion and state, and how religious Zionist leaders struggled with modern democratic ideals.

As we enter this election season, with all the questions surrounding democracy that have been raised, Hadar offers this set of source sheets and class recordings from a 6-part series originally taught in Summer 2023.