Halachic state
A halachic/halakhic state (Hebrew: מְדִינַת הֲלָכָה Medīnat Hălāḵā) is a Jewish state that endorses Judaism in an official capacity and derives most or all aspects of governance from halakha.[1]
Public opinion
An opinion poll released in March 2016 by the Pew Research Center found high support for a halachic state among religious Israeli Jews. The poll found that 86% of Israeli Haredi Jews and 69% of non-Haredi Orthodox Jews support making halakha Israel's legal code, while 57% of traditional Jews and 90% of secular Jews oppose such a move.[3] At the time, the Haredim constituted 8% of all Israelis, the Dati (Orthodox Jews) 10%, the Masorti (traditional Jews) 23%, and the Hiloni (secular Jews) 40%.[2] There was a majority agreement amongst all Israeli Jewish groups that Israel could be both a Jewish and democratic state.[2] When asked whether they would prefer democratic principles or halakha (religious law) if the two were ever in conflict, 62% of all Israeli Jews combined favoured democratic principles; however, preference for halakha was very high amongst the Haredim (89%), while very low amongst secular Jews (1%).[2]
Support of Jewish religious leaders
Menachem Mendel Schneerson advocated the transformation of Israel into a halachic state even before the Messiah comes.[4]
Support of Knesset members and Israeli justices
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In 2009, Justice Minister
In June 2019,
In August 2019, Smotrich stated: "We [Orthodox Jews] all would want the State of Israel to be run according to the Torah and Jewish law, it's just that we can't because there are people who think differently from us, and we have to get along with them."[8][9][10]
National identity bill
In 2014, Israel's cabinet advanced the Nation-State Bill, which would define Israel as "the nation-state of the Jewish people" and also said that Jewish law would be a "source of inspiration" for the Knesset. This was seen by some non-Orthodox Jews as a step toward enforcing Orthodox halakha as the law of the land.[11] However, the final version of the law did not include this proposed clause.
See also
- Christian state
- Islamic state
- State of Judea, a proposed Halakhic state in the Israeli-occupied West Bank
- Theocracy
References
- ^ a b c Wagner, Matthew (10 December 2009). "Religious Affairs: Who's afraid of a halachic state?". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Israel's Religiously Divided Society". Pew Research Center. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- Ynetnews. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ "Ariel Sharon and The Rebbe". JewishMedia. January 12, 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ Selig, Abe (13 May 2010). "Twelve given 'Worthy of Jerusalem' award". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ "Smotrich says he wants to be justice minister so Israel can follow Torah law". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ^ "Netanyahu appoints Amir Ohana justice minister, first openly gay cabinet member". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ^ Sharon, Jeremy (7 August 2019). "Smotrich says again he wants a Torah-run state". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ Oster, Marcy (6 August 2019). "Israeli right-wing lawmaker wants nation to be governed by Jewish law. He acknowledges it won't happen soon". Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
- ^ Tress, Luke (2019). "Smotrich says Israel should follow Torah law, drawing ire of Liberman". The Times of Israel.
- ^ Ettinger, Yair (25 November 2014). "Ultra-Orthodox and Reform Jews Share Distaste for Nation-state Bill". Haaretz. Retrieved 3 March 2019.