Parashat Vayera: What a vote cannot decide

Rabbi Moshe Taragin's Torah portion essay for Parashat Vayera reflects on the balance between individual freedom and communal belonging, written on the eve of Israeli elections. The piece traces six centuries of increasing human freedom from the Renaissance through the digital revolution, arguing that individualism has weakened traditional bonds. It contrasts this with Israeli society's shared historical narrative and covenant with God.

Rabbi Moshe Taragin's Torah portion essay for Parashat Vayera reflects on the tension between individual freedom and communal belonging, written on the eve of Israeli elections on October 27, 2026. The piece traces six centuries of increasing human freedom from the Renaissance through the digital revolution, arguing that while freedom has expanded human dignity, it has also weakened the shared covenants, families, communities, and moral values that once anchored identity. Taragin contrasts this with Israeli society, which he describes as still anchored in shared history, strong communities, and a covenant with God. He notes that hostility from liberal Western Europe toward Israel stems from discomfort with a people that champions a national story and shared historical destiny. The essay concludes by celebrating democracy as the best form of government, but emphasizes that a vote cannot decide the deeper questions of identity and belonging.