Pathways to God: Torah, Society, and State

Zionism and the establishment of the State of Israel challenge Torah scholars to articulate a vision of state and society that embodies the highest standards of security, sanctity, and justice. Rabbi Nachum L. Rabinovitch (1928–2020) spoke of these issues with a rare sensitivity and wisdom. Based on Maimonides’ halakhic and philosophical writings, Pathways to God argues that sanctity and good governance work together. National sanctity requires security and justice, which are themselves building blocks of a holy culture. The Torah articulates a vision of liberty, equality, rights, and responsibilities, which relates closely to modern democratic ideals but is not identical to them. The miraculous rebirth of the nation of Israel in the Land of Israel is an opportunity to improve not only the individual, but the collective as a whole.