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Should a Jewish State Have an Army?
Discuss (22)Question:
Should a Jewish state have an Army? Isn't it un-Jewish to kill people? How would Judaism apply the law from the Ten Commandments, "You shall not kill" in modern Israel?
Answer:
You may be surprised to learn that nowhere in the Ten Commandments or the entire Bible does it say "You shall not kill". Understanding this is vital to a true appreciation of Biblical morality.
The original Hebrew is "Lo tirtzach", which means "Do not murder". The Hebrew word for killing is "hariga", a completely different verb. There is a world of significance in this choice of words.
Murder is the taking of innocent life, which is always forbidden. Killing is the taking of any life, which is sometimes permitted or even obligatory. The Bible commands us to kill those who have irreversibly lost their innocence. There are two categories of such people:
1) Someone who is found guilty in a court of certain crimes, such as murder or kidnapping.
2) Someone who is posing a clear and direct threat to the lives of innocents. An example would be an armed gunman who breaks into someone else's home (Exodus 22:2).
I believe this is the most consistent and compassionate moral system. Above all else, innocent life is protected, both by the commandment not to murder and the commandment to kill those who are a threat to innocent people.
By Aron Moss
Rabbi Aron Moss teaches Kabbalah, Talmud and practical Judaism in Sydney, Australia, and is a frequent contributor to Chabad.org.
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Any country should have an army so why shouldn't Israel--it is a country too!
Boca Raton, Florida
Riverside, CA
jewishriverside.com
I am a friend and supporter of The State of Israel and the IDF. I have posted a comment before about this matter and of course, agree that the Divine Commandment "You Should Not Kill", only applies to the taking of "innocent lives" and not to the brave men and women who serve their country to protect "you and I" from "The Forces of Evil" e.g. "The Taliban" and other Muslim Extremist groups, who wish to threaten "civilised society". A few months ago the "Scottish Army" were in Waterloo Place, in Edinburgh and I talked with two of these gentlemen. They were delighted when I told them that I admired the essential work they were doing in Afghanistan. One soldier told me he had also served in Iraq and said it could take "ten years or more" to sort out the Taliban, who were always increasing in number. Afghan women are being killed and tortured by the "evil regime" and have begged The British and American Forces not to leave them. I hope they will remain there.
Shalom
Edinburgh, Scotland
Ariel, Israel
Detroit, M.I.
I was given this article by Rabbi Posner and it completely answers my question.
I am a pro-Jewish supporter of The State of Israel and the IDF and hope to come to Israel one day to meet my Jewish comrades. The Jewish interpretation of the Commandment "You shall not kill" is much superior to the Christian one. If I were thirty years younger, I would be joining The Israeli Army, as I believe they are protecting the land that "God" has given the Jews. "I would have no hesitation in "taking out" an evil terrorist who was threatening my country or my family and friends. If the Muslim Extremists tried to impose their evil system in Britain, I would kill them and not expect any bad Kharma or "Divine Retribution". May "God" bless our brave soldiers, serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and those protecting Israel.
Shalom
Edinburgh, Scotland
i said "spiritually sounded"
but I meant "spiritually wounded" !!!
Gd specifically promises us victory in battle. So the answer is, Of course killing in battle is not murder! We are expected to have an army, if we have a country. Every country needs an army for self-defense.
And, even an individual is permitted to kill someone who is trying to kill him. The Commandment does not say Thou shalt not kill. If it said that, we could not eat meat, because we must kill it in order to eat it.
The commandment says Thou shalt not MURDER. And, self defense is not murder. And, killing as a warrior in the armed service of our country is not murder.
Summary:
It is morally painful to us, and we are spiritually sounded as well, when we kill an animal and more so if we must kill a fellow human being. But, it is not murder to slaughter an animal for food or to kill even a human being when it becomes necessary for self-defense or for the defense of our country.
Salida, USA