In his new book In His Image: The Image of God in Man, Yuval Cherlow—a prominent Israeli rabbi involved in a wide range of social and political endeavors—seeks to recover ethical principles in the Torah that he believes are often underemphasized and adapt them to the modern Jewish situation. Key to his thought is the need to respond to both the Holocaust and the creation of a Jewish state. (Interview by Alan Brill):
Two [mutually reinforcing necessities arise] from the Holocaust. The first [is to turn the state of Israel] into the safest place in the world for Jews. The scar etched in us by the Holocaust obligates us never to rely fully on anybody in the world, and to maintain a political and national entity in which we defend ourselves. . . . I don’t mean an isolated state, but one which engages the world, in the manner that enlightened countries do. However, its foremost concern [must be] the safety of its citizens and the safety of Jewish people the world over. . . .
[Second], we must partner with the entire world in fortifying those elements that fight against the very possibility of repeating the Holocaust. [Above all], this should be done by promoting a world in which human rights, individual freedom, human dignity, and life are the fundamental principles that underlie any government. But that is not enough. . . .
The Torah itself teaches us about the great dangers that are intrinsic to power. [The book of Deuteronomy] warns of the danger that the king’s heart will be “lifted above his brethren,” meaning that the power he yields will corrupt [him]. It is important to emphasize [that the] Torah [recognizes the] importance [of] power and strength, manifested in a stable [government. However], the Torah does not ignore the great risks present in monarchy, and for that reason it orders restrictions [on the government’s power]. . . .
[T]he Torah [creates additional sources of public authority]: the priest, the judge, and the prophet, [thus anticipating] the principle of separation of powers [found in the writings of] Montesquieu. . . . [E]ven today we need institutions that limit the ruling power, and until we return to the days of prophecy and priesthood, it is very important that there be substitutes for those institutions.
Read more on Book of Doctrines and Opinions: https://kavvanah.wordpress.com/2016/07/27/in-his-image-an-interview-with-rabbi-yuval-cherlow/