)
The idea of separation of powers is found in the Bible, which describes four authorities that balance one another. The first authority was the monarchy, in charge of governmental activity. The second was the justice system, which included courts in every neighborhood and city. The highest of them all, the Great Sanhedrin, was located in Jerusalem near the Temple, and its sages were even empowered to judge a king and to confirm the appointment of a new king. The third authority was the priesthood, headed by the High Priest. The priests' job was to serve in the Temple, and – together with the Levites – to teach Torah and decide halakhic matters throughout the Land. The fourth authority was prophecy, in which God sent messages through prophets to elevate, guide, and rebuke the nation. Sometimes the prophets rebuked the king, the judges, or the priests. This last authority was not institutional, as it depended on a divine decision as to who was wise and righteous enough to receive prophecy. God also determined when a prophecy was needed and for what purpose.
These four authorities needed to work together. The king would appoint police officers, both to carry out the decisions of the courts and to protect the Temple. The priests would support the government, and indeed many police officers were priests or Levites. If the king deviated from his responsibility to follow the law of the Torah, he would be criticized by the sages, priests, and prophets. Sometimes this led to a transition of power, whether peaceful or through revolt.
Many western nations, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, were inspired by the Bible when it came to building a state. At the time, the Jews were in exile. Now we have been given the privilege of returning to our Land and establishing the State of Israel. We must examine the different types of government, identify each one’s strengths and weaknesses from organizational and moral perspectives, and draw guidance from the Torah. By doing so, we can establish the best system of rule for the State of Israel.
