Reply To: prayers for governments

Akuperma, if one wants a clean house, transportation or lawn care and cannot do it oneself then yes, pray for their welfare – and for them to do good jobs. In a republic or constitutional monarchy, Yirmiahu’s dictum still applies as the prayer is for country in general. If Rav Kook’s ruling (Mishpat Cohen 144) that any leadership the people accept has the din of melech also applies to mixed countries then so would that of Rabbi Chanina Segan haCohanim. In any case, one can daven to vote for the right people and not be disappointed. In the final analysis, democratic countries are representative democracies not direct democracies.