What is the Charedi approach to participating in national government offices or taking political roles within the State of Israel?

At first glance, it may seem contradictory: If the Charedi world opposes the ideology of secular Zionism and does not view the State of Israel as the true fulfillment of Jewish sovereignty, why do some Charedim participate in its political system? Why do we have parties in the Knesset, Charedi MKs, and even Charedim in official government roles?

The answer is rooted in a deep Torah understanding of hishtadlus (effort), pikuach nefesh (saving lives), and preserving the Torah way of life within an imperfect and often hostile system.

Our Guiding Principle: We Engage Only to Protect Torah

We do not participate in Israeli politics because we endorse the system. We participate despite it, as a bedieved — a practical necessity to safeguard Torah values, yeshivos, Shabbos observance, kashrus standards, and the dignity of Am Yisrael in the land.

This is not new. It goes back to Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik zt”l (the Brisker Rav) who warned:

"Every political act must be weighed as a question of pikuach nefesh. We do not vote to build the state, we vote to stop it from destroying Torah."

Likewise, Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l, who was perhaps the most influential Charedi leader in Israeli political history, wrote:

“We are not here to build the state. We are here to preserve the Torah amidst the state.”
— Michtavim u’Maamarim

Participation is not ideological. It is a form of self-defense. Just as we lock our doors at night, we engage in politics not to shape a Zionist future — but to hold back the tide of secularism and protect the spiritual lives of hundreds of thousands of Torah Jews.

Historical Precedent: Chinuch Atzmai & Agudas Yisrael

After the founding of the State, Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l established Chinuch Atzmai (Independent Torah Education) to ensure Torah education could survive outside of state control. But to receive funding, a political arm was needed. This led to careful, limited engagement with state ministries — never to legitimize them, only to preserve the Torah infrastructure for future generations.

Similarly, the Agudas Yisrael party was born in Europe before the State, and maintained a strict anti-Zionist stance. Their participation in the Knesset was always conditional and defensive — not an embrace, but a shield.

"We enter the halls of power only to ensure the Torah is not trampled by those in power."
— Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l

Rav Ovadia Yosef and the Sephardi Position

The Sephardic Torah world, led by Chacham Ovadia Yosef zt”l, also endorsed participation as a practical vehicle to protect Torah Jews, particularly Sephardim, who were often marginalized by the secular elite.

He declared:

“To bring back Torah, to raise the voice of Shamayim in the land, we must have a seat at the table — not for honor, but for Heaven.”
— Yechaveh Daas, Vol. 5

Thus, the creation of Shas was not a movement of Zionism, but of restoring Torah to the forgotten sectors of Jewish society.

Where We Draw the Line

Charedi participation is always limited:

• We generally do not accept cabinet positions with overarching responsibility for secular agendas (such as defense, finance, or foreign affairs).
• We do not serve in positions that require us to legislate against halacha, such as judicial appointments or religious reform issues.
• We do not legitimize the secular nature of the government; our representatives often state publicly that they are there solely to protect Torah values.

And many Gedolim — especially from the Eida HaChareidis and certain Chassidic communities — reject any participation altogether, fearing it may lead to compromise or give the system false credibility.

Analogy: A Fire in the House

Imagine a family whose home has caught fire — but only one room is burning. Do you stand back and say, “This isn’t my house,” or do you run in to save your children?

The secular state is not our ideal home. But our children live in it. The yeshivos, the mikvaos, the neighborhoods, the kedushah — they are all there. If we do not enter the system, even unwillingly, we risk losing them.

In Summary

• Charedim do not endorse the State’s ideology through political participation.
• We enter politics only to protect Torah, not to promote nationalism or secular governance.
• Participation is guided by gedolei Torah, weighed carefully and reluctantly.
• We draw red lines where halacha or Torah values may be compromised.

Sources and Footnotes

1. Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik (Brisker Rav), oral teachings on Zionism and state power – quoted by talmidim and in Pe’er HaDor.
2. Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach, Michtavim u’Maamarim, Vol. 2 – letters about political participation.
3. Rav Aharon Kotler, founding of Chinuch Atzmai – historical records and Michtavei Rav Aharon.
4. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, public comments recorded by talmidim on the dangers and limits of political engagement.
5. Rav Ovadia Yosef, Yechaveh Daas, Vol. 5 – teshuvos on Shas, state engagement, and Torah activism.
6. Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igros Moshe, Choshen Mishpat 2:29 – discusses practical political involvement when Torah is at risk.
7. Rav Shach, address to Degel HaTorah conference, 1989 – “We are not here to build the State, we are here to preserve the Torah.”