Avot 3:1: Judaism and Civil Government

By Rabbi Alan Yuter
Posted Tuesday, September 26, 2006

1. Be careful when dealing with the government.
2. They [the humans who constitute the government] do not reach out to the individual except for their own needs, i.e., when the resident has utility to them.
3. They will allow themselves to appear as friends, when it is good for them, but they will not stand by the individual when that person is in need.

This Mishnah is a window into how the ancient rabbis looked to the taxing, service providing secular government. On one hand, the government provides order, without which there would be anarchy. The services provided by the government are, in the large, for the benefit of the rulers and not the ruled. So do not be fooled.

This Mishnah is organized in the conventional triad. Sentence A provides a rule, "be careful." Note well that this suggestion is not a command. Accidents happen. Government might be a force for good. The Mishnah's first sentence commends caution.

The second sentence describes who the actual players of government really are. On one hand, these players/peoples present themselves as servants of the people, but as people, the impulse to self-service is often too great to resist. So instead of being tools of the community, the community is often used as tools by the government.

The third and concluding sentence explains how to be wary and what to notice when being wary of the government. Officers often appear to be fine, nice, proper and decent to bring the community's guard down. People will speak nicely when they want something from you but should you be in need, they will be very difficult to find and will not be of aid to you if there is a cost to them.

The Romans are civilized. They do not scowl, but smile, albeit seductively. They act in the name of principle, but are driven by self-interest. You are a pawn in their castle, to be discarded when their pleasure so dictates.

This Mishnah teaches several lessons:

1. Smiling is seductive. Be wary of the seductive smile. But public servants want to be seen as servants.
2. Trust your people and your family, outsiders are interested in their good.
3. We do respect the government for the good that it does, and sometimes the government may act rightly
4. If the government will not stand for people in time of need, we stand in the breach and provide that support.
5. The human condition requires order and authority, but order and authority can and often is abused
6. The intelligent Jew adjusts attitudes and policies to reality in an appropriate and not mechanical fasion.

B'nai Israel Congregation  • 27 Lloyd Street • Baltimore, MD 21202 • 410-732-5454 • Fax 410-732-4850