The latest men’s Torah lesson in the Menorah Community youth project of the Dnipro Jewish Community, which is actively developing thanks to the efforts of the Zislin family, took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere on the summer terrace of the Hummus Bar café. The lesson focused on one of the most important principles of Jewish law: “Dina de-Malchuta – Dina” (“the law of the state is the law”), which reveals the Torah’s relationship to the observance of the laws of the country of residence and an individual’s responsibility to society.
The speaker at the meeting was Reb Avraham Yosif Yitzchak Karshenbaum, Deputy Secretary of the Dnipro Rabbinical Court, who offered the participants a detailed study of this fundamental Jewish principle. Particular attention was paid to the question of where the line is drawn between the requirements of Halacha and state law, in which cases Jewish law determines human behavior, and in which cases observance of state laws itself becomes the fulfillment of a Torah command.
During the lesson, participants discussed how the principle of “Dina de-malchuta – Dina” is not limited to respecting state authority or maintaining public order. The discussion focused on the understanding that if state laws do not contradict Halacha, observing them is not only a civic obligation for Jews, but also part of their religious duty. Therefore, observing the laws of the country of residence was seen as a manifestation of responsibility to the Almighty, society, and the people among whom one lives.
A separate line of discussion was the understanding that the principles of the Torah help find answers to questions that arise in everyday life. Even ordinary life situations can require serious moral choices, and it is the study of Jewish law that allows one to better understand how fidelity to the Torah is combined with a responsible attitude toward the state and the surrounding society.
“Studying fundamental principles like ‘Dina de-malchuta – dina’ helps men better understand the connection between Torah law and everyday life, and fosters a sense of personal responsibility and respect for the world around them,” noted Menorah Community project director Levi Zislin. “It is through Torah study and a conscious attitude toward our responsibilities that we make the world a better place, and for the opportunity to participate in this great mission, we wholeheartedly thank the united and cohesive Jewish community of Dnipro, under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
