Halakhah su Deuteronomio 17:20

While adducing no evidence for his contention, Rabbi Levinson advances an interesting argument in support of the thesis that the prohibition against the appointment of a female monarch is not applicable to contemporary political or communal office. Rabbi Levinson argues that the prohibition, while encompassing not only the monarchy but lesser offices as well, applies only to those offices whose holders enjoy the prerogatives of lifetime incumbency and hereditary succession. In the opinion of Rabbi Levinson, the verse " … that he may prolong his days in his kingship, he and his children" (Deuteronomy 17:20) serves not merely as a description of the nature of royal office but also as a limitation upon the prohibition "a king, but not a queen" contained in the earlier verse. According to this argument, election or appointment of a woman to a term of office for a specific number of years is not at all proscribed.

From the laws of the commandment is that which they, may their memory be blessed, said (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings and Wars 1:3) that we do not a priori set up a king in Israel except by the word of a court of seventy elders and by the word of a prophet - like Yehoshua, as Moshe, our teacher, and his court appointed him; and like Shaul and David, as Shmuel HaRamati and his court appointed them. And [also] that which they said (in Sifrei Devarim 157), that we do not set up a woman to the monarchy, as it is stated, "a king" - and not a queen. And when they would set up a king, they would anoint him with anointing oil (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings and Wars 1:7). And once he has been appointed, he acquires the monarchy for himself and for his sons, as it is written (Deuteronomy 17:20), "in order that he will have length of days upon his monarchy; he and his sons, among Israel." If he [only] left over a minor son, we preserve the monarchy for him until he grows up, as Yehoyada did for Yoash. And anyone who is precedent for the inheritance is precedent for the inheritance of the monarchy. And the big son precedes the small son. And it is not just the monarchy, but all positions of authority - in actuality or as an honorary title from the honorary titles - and all appointments in Israel are an inheritance for a man, such that his son acquires it after him, and his son's son, and his son's son's son forever. And this is when he fills the place of his fathers with the fear of Heaven. But if there is no fear of Heaven in him - even though he has great wisdom - there is no need to say that we do not appoint him to an appointment of the appointments in Israel, but it is [even] fitting to hate him and distance him. And about them, David stated (Psalms 5:6), "[You] have hated all doers of iniquity."

From the roots of the commandment is that which is elucidated in Scripture, "That his heart not get haughty, etc." (Deuteronomy 17:20).