Parshat Terumah (1 Kings 5:26 - 6:13) February 28, 2004

Rabbi Levi ben Gershom, the 14th century French commentator and philosopher, saw in this verse a link between Solomon’s wisdom and his treaty with Hiram. He asserted that Hiram’s interest in a treaty with Solomon was based on Hiram’s love for Solomon’s wisdom. A contemporary, Rabbi Joseph Kaspi, however, claimed that this verse meant to express that Solomon’s wisdom led him to make peace with Hiram. Kaspi’s interpretation opened the door to the use of this verse as a source for shaping Jewish religious-political philosophy.

Rabbi Hayim Hirshensohn, one of the outstanding early 20th century religious Zionist authorities who also served as a congregational rabbi in Hobocken, New Jersey, met this challenge. In his religious-political manifesto, “Eleh Divrei Habrit”, he maintained that God gave Solomon the wisdom to make treaties, form alliances and to make peace because these bring physical and economic well-being to the nation. In his discussion of these issues, he emphasized that these factors should be paramount considerations in the geopolitical decision making of leaders. Furthermore, he asserts that war and conquest (including religiously sanctioned conquest) should be carried out wisely and only when “intelligent” considerations warrant it, never frivolously. (pp. 111-5)

Hirshensohn obviously viewed this particular verse as a guide for the political leaders of the nascent Jewish state. He saw reason, reason and real-politic rather than unwavering ideology as God given virtues necessary for the proper governance of the God promised nation. Obviously, this message is important to all of us. It is perhaps the wisest gift that this unsung rabbinic thinker could possible bequeath to the people of Israel.