Venue: NYU Bronfman Center NYU Bronfman Center

Machshava:

Politics 

Personalities:

Rambam 

Collections: R' Wolfson Jewish Political Thought

Description

In our second class on Jewish political thought we start by discussing the inherent tension between God’s power and human power – an apparent conflict between Tehillim and Pirkei Avot. Referencing the 20th Century disagreement between Rav Herzog and Rav Chaim Ozer Grodsinki as to the role of the Torah in State of Israel we unpack each of their positions starting with the inspiration for Rav Herzog, the Rambam. The bulk of the class examines the Rambam’s political philosophy, his understanding of divine law and his view of the Kingship as having a profoundly religious role, and the way in which religion serves the state and the state serves religion.