A Brief Look at Authoritarianism and Totalitarianism Through a Perspective of Jewish Law and Tradition

A view of authoritarianism and totalitarianism through a perspective of Jewish law and tradition might take various forms and draw upon different approaches, depending on a number of components, including definitions of terms, modes of analysis, and the scope of disciplines and materials to be incorporated. Rather than attempting to present a comprehensive or determinative presentation of historical and philosophical considerations of these issues, this essay will briefly explore conceptual lessons from narrative, political, and legal sources of Jewish tradition, suggesting that Jewish thought recognizes, at once, both the importance of unity and authority and the dangers of authoritarianism and totalitarianism. As such, these sources provide fertile ground for further analysis that might facilitate more direct applications, and offer a general framework for arriving at answers to specific questions revolving around these issues, as they arise within a particular setting or scenario.