Rabbi Rules Non-Jew Can Serve in Israeli Government if They Recognize Jewish State
Rabbi Ratzon Arusi, former chief rabbi of Kiryat Ono and a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council, has stated that a non-Jewish individual can serve in the Israeli government and cabinet, provided they recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people. This ruling was made in response to a query about Arab-Christian media personality Yosef Haddad, who has served in the IDF's Golani Brigade and is identified with Israel.
Rabbi Arusi clarified that his response pertains to the current democratic system, not a future Sanhedrin, and acknowledges the inclusion of non-Jewish members of Knesset. However, he distinguishes between Knesset membership and government or cabinet roles. He emphasized that the Israeli government's primary role is to protect Israel as a Jewish state and safeguard Jews worldwide.
Arusi expressed doubt that a non-Jew serving in the government would genuinely identify with and act for Israel as a Jewish state and for the Jewish people, especially if they do not resonate with the national anthem's line, "a Jewish soul yearns." He stressed that governmental decisions must prioritize Israel's existence as the state of the Jewish people and ensure its continuity, aiding Jews globally.
He further explained that Israel's foundation is the 3,000-year-old yearning of Jews worldwide to return to the Land of Israel and establish their state. Arusi stated that anyone who views Israel solely as a state for its citizens, rather than for the Jewish people, is not constitutionally qualified to act in the name of the Jewish people. Therefore, he concluded, any Knesset member serving in the government or cabinet who does not recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people is unfit for such positions.
Ultimately, Rabbi Arusi reiterated that the core condition for serving in the government or cabinet is the recognition that Israel is the state of the Jewish people. He stated that a non-Jew could serve if they genuinely acknowledge this, even if they do not personally identify with the "Jewish soul" line, as long as they recognize the Jewish people's millennia-long yearning for Zion. Conversely, anyone who denies this historical yearning is unfit for government, particularly the cabinet, which is responsible for the welfare of Jews globally.
