Rabbi Cites King Agrippa's Flattery to Warn Against Non-Jewish Leadership

Rabbi Yaakov Yikir is drawing parallels between the biblical story of King Agrippa and the modern State of Israel, emphasizing the importance of Jewish sovereignty and identity in governance. He references the Talmudic account of Agrippa, a Roman-appointed king of Jewish descent, who wept during a public Torah reading upon reaching the verse prohibiting a non-Israelite from ruling over them. The crowd's response, 'You are our brother,' is presented as a dangerous act of flattery that, according to rabbinic tradition, contributed to the destruction of the Second Temple.

Yikir argues that Agrippa, being of slave lineage and appointed by Romans, was not inherently fit to rule, and the people's insincere declaration of brotherhood was a misrepresentation of Halakha (Jewish law). This, he contends, led to a corruption of justice and ultimately to national ruin. The rabbi highlights that the ceremony of Hakhel, where the entire nation gathers to hear the Torah, underscores the leader's commitment to divine law, emphasizing that the King of Israel is not merely a technocrat but a ruler appointed by God to uphold justice and spread goodness.

The article connects this to the establishment of the State of Israel, asserting that its leadership must stem from the Jewish people and maintain its Jewish identity. Drawing on the teachings of Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Kook, it suggests that in the absence of a king, sovereignty and authority revert to the nation as a whole. This principle, according to religious Zionist leaders like Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, implies that a government lacking a Jewish majority lacks legitimacy and authority, as Jewish law explicitly forbids non-Jews from holding positions of power.

Rabbi Yikir concludes that even in complex political situations, flattering non-Jews or calling them brothers worthy of leadership is inappropriate. True alliances, he states, are built on recognizing Jewish sovereignty and the unique status of Israel as God's chosen nation, led by individuals of Jewish descent. He specifically calls for top political and military positions, such as Prime Minister, President, Defense Minister, and Chief of Staff, to be held exclusively by Jews.