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Why do many synagogues avoid reciting prayers for government despite the Talmudic obligation in Avos? The shiur distinguishes between consequence-based secular law (which fails to prevent crime) and Torah (תורה)'s morality-based system that creates genuine respect for unchanging principles. Only governments that maintain absolute moral standards deserve the prayers Chazal prescribed.
Rabbi Zweig begins by addressing why many synagogues don't recite prayers for the United States government or Israel, despite a clear Talmudic obligation. The Mishna in Pirkei Avos states that one must pray for the welfare of the government, as Rabbi Chanina the deputy high priest teaches: 'Pray for the peace of the ruling power, since but for fear of it, men would have swallowed each other up alive.' This principle appears in both Talmudic and biblical sources, including the requirement to pray for host countries during exile and the Temple's practice of offering seventy sacrifices for the nations during Sukkos (סוכות). The core problem Rabbi Zweig identifies is a fundamental philosophical difference between Torah (תורה) and secular legal systems. American law operates on consequences - creating negative outcomes to deter crime through fear of punishment. However, this approach demonstrably fails, as evidenced by rising crime rates despite increasingly severe penalties. Rabbi Zweig cites a historical example from 18th century England, where pickpockets were commonly caught at public hangings of other pickpockets, proving that even witnessing the ultimate consequence doesn't deter criminal behavior.
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Pirkei Avos 3:2 - Rabbi Chanina Sganik Kohanim
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