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Appointing a King - Torah and Democracy (Mitzvot 497, 498, 71, and 78)
Is there a justification for Democracy in a religious Jewish state?
Based on the Torah, as explained by the Sefer HaChinuch, monarchy seems to be the only Torah-approved form of government. However, there are five sources that seem to justify democracy in a religious Jewish state as discussed in the book מחשבות על דמוקרטיה יהודית.
שבעה טובי העיר, דינא דמלכותא דינא, a non-King with the powers of a king (e.g. Yehoshua and the Shoftim).
Delivered at the OU Israel Center, Wednesday, December 26th, 2018/18 Tevet 5779