An important document signed by Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan, sent to Rabbi Shaul Hanna Cook younger brother of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, regarding the founding a constitution for the State of Israel in the first months of its founding. Elul 3, 1948.
In his letter, Rabbi Meir Bar Ilan asks RS'H to express his opinion on a proposal version by the Mizrachi rabbis regarding a constitution for the State of Israel. "It is required the Mizrachi to know the views of the Torah people and the great people in our country for this constitution. Of course, we are interested first and foremost to hear his view of the Constitution from the point of Torah when it comes to matters of religion, if he has any further comments please inform us ... ".
These were fateful days of controversy about the constitution for the new State of Israel. The disagreement between those who believe that it is necessary to establish a constitution and those who oppose its establishment has in fact accompanied the State of Israel since its early days. The difficulty of establishing a constitution stemmed from the different views regarding the form of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. In the eyes of the The Mizrahi rabbis, it was important to emphasize the Jewish part of the state in the future. That was the reason they appealed to the RS'H ask him for express his opinion on the matter.
[1] Official paper of the Mizrahi World Center with Rabbi Cook picture .
28 x23 cm. Folding marks, good condition.
