EXOD731 Whenever we encounter human interaction, we encounter ethical obligations. We have ethical obligations in our relationships with family members, with neighbors and friends, and with economic contacts such as customers, suppliers, employers, and employees. In addition, all of us are members of a community, a commonwealth, and this implies that we have ethical obligations as citizens. While the government often seems to be a faceless monolith, at best neutral and at worst hostile, we should recall that the best government is the embodiment of the aspirations of the entire community, and that even the worst government is preferable to anarchy. The Torah commands us not to belittle our leaders: "Do not do belittle the judge, and do not deride the prince among your people" [this verse]. Sefer ha-Hinnukh, an important commentary on the Torah, explains: "It is impossible for any settlement of people to exist without one person designated as their head, to perform his commands and carry out his decrees. For the views of people are varied, and they will never be able to completely agree on any issue; as a result, they will end up in inaction and nullity in their actions." The Hinnukh goes on to explain that even though leaders are fallible and will occasionally be wrong, action that is sometimes mistaken is far preferable to interaction. This principle applies to any society we find ourselves in. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God admonishes the Jews who are on their way to exile in Babylon, "Seek the peace of the city whither I have banished you, and pray on its behalf to the Lord; for in its welfare will be your welfare" [Jeremiah 29:7]. This mandate is the basis for the custom of saying a prayer in synagogue each Shabbat on behalf of the monarch, affirming that it is God "Who grants salvation to Kings." The ethical principle of good citizenship found in the Torah and in the prophets is also echoed in the Talmud, which summarizes: "The law of the land is the law." [Gittin 10b]. As long as a law is legitimate, equitable, and consistent with Torah values, we have a religious obligation to uphold it.