Israel as a Jewish and Democratic State
Prof. Moshe Halbertal addresses JCC Association Senior Leadership Seminar about "What is a Jewish-democratic state?"
JCC Association’s Leadership Seminar in Israel brought continental board members, executive directors and presidents of JCCs in the US and Canada, accompanied by JCCA President Allan Finkelstein and Executive VP Alan Mann, to the Mandel Leadership Institute (MLI) in Jerusalem, where they met some of MLI's faculty, fellows and graduates and learned about the work of Mandel Foundation-Israel and how its activities address some of the major challenges of Israeli society and Jewish communities around the world.
Participants in the JCC Association's Leadership Seminar visited MLI to learn about the work of Mandel Foundation-Israel. |
The highlight of the visit to MLI was a captivating lecture on “Israel as Jewish and Democratic State” by MLI faculty member Prof. Moshe Halbertal, who offered descriptive analysis of social and political trends in Israel during its six decades of existence, together with a normative view of essential elements as a Jewish and democratic state. |
Five Tribes
Focusing on the “five tribes” of Israeli society, Prof. Halbertal described significant transformations in these groups since the establishment of the state.
The ultra-Orthodox (haredi) sector – which initially viewed itself as a foreign element exiled in Israel – has undergone a progress of gradual integration, albeit as a minority within Israeli society. While still preserving their own sub-culture, they are increasingly more engaged with outside society, with significant impact in the political arena. One ramification of this development has been the “mechutanization” of the state – whereby the state has adopted the role of the proverbial father-in-law who supported sons-in-law while they dedicated themselves to Torah study. As a result, full-time study has become the norm among young haredi men.
At the other extreme, Prof. Halbertal noted, we have witnessed the rise of strong secular, anti-clerical groups, who registered major gains in previous elections. These stereotypical denizens of “Tel Aviv-land” seek freedom from religion in Israel. Their election ads, like those of the ultra-Orthodox sector, often focus on “the other.”
Immigrants from the former Soviet Union, who comprise 20% of the population and 27% of the combat soldiers, constitute a strong and well-educated group. While their politics are predominately right wing and nationalistic, they are strongly secular and support the separation of religion and state. One of the top items on their agenda is the institution of civil marriage to enable mixed (Jewish and non-Jewish) couples to wed. The support of this group has enabled the meteoric rise of Avigdor Lieberman – the outspoken head of the Israel is our Home party (which received a 15-seat mandate in recent elections).
The moderating force of the religious Zionists and the Sephardim, who once served as a bridge between the secular and the ultra-Orthodox, has been weakened as a result of the rightward shift among religious Zionists and the growing identity with the haredi world among Shas constituents.
Lastly, Halbertal noted the shift in consciousness among Israeli Arabs, particularly among the leadership. While until 20 years ago, many saw themselves as a discriminated minority, today they are more inclined to reject the notion of a (Jewish) nation-state, viewing themselves instead as a “minority under occupation.”
Additionally Halbertal pointed out, there are shifting views within Diaspora Jewry regarding of the centrality of Israel, reflecting controversial issues (such as “Who is a Jew?”) and increasing attention to local needs.
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In summarizing his descriptive analysis, Halbertal noted that close to 30% of the population - the haredim and the Arabs - reject the concept of Israel as a Jewish-democratic state. For the former, Israel means Jewish without democracy, while the latter maintain that Israel should be a democracy but not Jewish. The 70% who accept the Jewish-democratic formula are obliged to think through – clearly and coherently – what this means, and articulate it in the form of a social contract. |
The highlight of the visit to MLI was a captivating lecture on “Israel as Jewish and Democratic State” by MLI faculty member Prof. Moshe Halbertal |
What is a Jewish-democratic state?
Prof. Halbertal posits four dimensions of Israel as a Jewish state:
Zionism, as the expression of the Jewish people’s desire to take responsibility for its political future, its interests, and its actions – i.e., sovereignty – necessitates that Israel, as responsible for well-being of the Jewish people worldwide, have the means to defend the Jewish people and its political interests.
The Law of Return, which constitutes the essence of Israel as a Jewish state, grants Jews the world over the automatic right to citizenship. This is affirmative action, not discrimination, said Halbertal – noting that he would similarly support a Palestinian law of return to a Palestinian state.
The other two dimensions include public symbols – the Jewish calendar, the flag, the Hebrew language, and the national emblems (the menorah, Magen David) – and the public education system, which strengthens Jewish traditions, cultures and customs. In Halbertal’s view, the Jewishness of the state should be limited to these four dimensions.
As a democracy, Jews must be allowed to decide how they want to live Jewishly. Further Judaization of the state via religious legislation only breeds resentment, alienation, and hatred of Judaism. Israel ought to reflect and embrace the plurality of Jewish forms of life (Orthodox, Reform, Conservative and secular) and locate the cultural debate about the future identity away from the legislator to the realm of intellectual and cultural life. At the same time, non-Jewish citizens must enjoy equal rights and democracy. While an egalitarian ethos exists de jure, in practice, Arab citizens do not enjoy equal opportunity – in education, jobs, land, housing, etc. Inclusiveness must be ensured to keep the fragile fabric of co-existence from tearing asunder.
Israel is a dynamic society in a constant process of flux and change, summarized Prof. Halbertal. In defining what constitutes a Jewish and democratic state, the 70% majority can unite around a consensus: Less religious legislation, but more Jewish education; greater affirmation of the state as Jewish, but inclusive and fair to non-Jewish minorities. Furthermore, the state machinery should not define the content of Judaism for citizens. However, the state must define who is a Jew - not for halachic purposes but in the context of Israel as a safe haven, for the purpose of the Law of Return, taking into account factors such as persecution, solidarity and shared fate as a Jew.
Participants in JCC Association’s Israel Leadership Seminar delegation found Prof. Moshe Halbertal’s analysis of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state an important lens for examining the people, places and issues encountered throughout their visit to Israel.
To view Prof Halbertal's lecture online click here
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