יהדות ודמוקרטיה: האומנם קונפליקט? האומנם קונפליקט?

The claim that a basic conflict prevails between Judaism and democracy is often raised. My basic thesis in this paper is that this claim has not been established, and that an examination of several potential clashes between Judaism and democracy shows that these conflicts are not necessary. I examine Iwo main types of conflicts: 1. The conflict concerning the principle of sovereignty. 2. Conflicts concerning specific norms that democracy denies and halakha affirms, or vice-versa. The first type of conflict indicates that the subject of halakha bows to divine sovereignty, whereas the citizen submits to the sovereignty of the people or the state. A careful analysis of several versions of this conflict shows it to be based on unnecessary claims or on a misunderstanding. As for conflicts between norms, they may indeed emerge but need not lead to irreconcilable clashes, and I consider several alternatives for balancing a commitment to halakhic norms with a commitment to democratic norms.