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RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: Judaism's View of War and Military Deferments: Biden's Sin?
When our Hebrew ancestors would mobilize their forces for war, Rabbi L. Gurkow teaches, they were addressed by a high ranking priest. First he would offer brave words of encouragement and confident predictions of victory. "Let your heart not be faint; do not fear the enemy nor enter into panic and do not be terrified for God will vanquish your enemy for you."
The military officers would then announce: "Any man who has built a home, but has yet lived in it... planted a vineyard, but has yet to render it fit for use... betrothed a woman, but has not yet married her... should return home, lest he die in war...." (Deuteronomy 20)
Rabbi L. Gurkow continues that this is an astounding time for such announcements. The priest has just bolstered the morale of the troops and the officers; yet now, it seems, he proceeds to demoralize them by thinning their ranks! The idea of military deferments is as old as Torah and Moses.
(There are a number of explanations that are offered by the commentaries for these announcements. Rabbi Ibn Ezra argues that this was strategically wise. Men with such concerns on their mind will worry about their affairs at home and will be unable to keep their mind on the battle. Filling their ranks with such unmotivated troops would weaken the military and undermine their prospects for victory. Abarbanel, argues that since these men did not have opportunity to fulfill the respective mitzvot associated with their endeavor (the house builder has yet to build his parapet, the vineyard planter has yet to offer the priestly gifts and the betrothed has yet to sire children) they would not merit the miracles required for victory.)
When our Hebrew ancestors would mobilize their forces for war, Rabbi L. Gurkow teaches, they were addressed by a high ranking priest. First he would offer brave words of encouragement and confident predictions of victory. "Let your heart not be faint; do not fear the enemy nor enter into panic and do not be terrified for God will vanquish your enemy for you."
The military officers would then announce: "Any man who has built a home, but has yet lived in it... planted a vineyard, but has yet to render it fit for use... betrothed a woman, but has not yet married her... should return home, lest he die in war...." (Deuteronomy 20)
Rabbi L. Gurkow continues that this is an astounding time for such announcements. The priest has just bolstered the morale of the troops and the officers; yet now, it seems, he proceeds to demoralize them by thinning their ranks! The idea of military deferments is as old as Torah and Moses.
(There are a number of explanations that are offered by the commentaries for these announcements. Rabbi Ibn Ezra argues that this was strategically wise. Men with such concerns on their mind will worry about their affairs at home and will be unable to keep their mind on the battle. Filling their ranks with such unmotivated troops would weaken the military and undermine their prospects for victory. Abarbanel, argues that since these men did not have opportunity to fulfill the respective mitzvot associated with their endeavor (the house builder has yet to build his parapet, the vineyard planter has yet to offer the priestly gifts and the betrothed has yet to sire children) they would not merit the miracles required for victory.)
[Note that Abarbanel was King Ferdinand's and Queen Isabela's physician and advisor, who as Catholics, turned on him and his people, and evicted all Jews from Spain, in 1492, and started the horrid Spanish Inquisition, taking Jewish lives, but being anti-abortion. This scene repeats in countries after countries. The best ally of the Jew is God.(Ps. 118). We are but sojourners in any land we live in, no matter how loyal we are or how high in power, or wealthy we become. Any friend of Israel is doing it either because they need her for an alley, or they need her for her Mosad's secrets, or they need her for some perverse Armageddon view in which they get resurrected and Jews end up in Gehenah. At some point, Jewish rights will be truncated, forcing us to obey their view of life's conception, or medical abortion, or Sunday business closings, or their version of the Ten Commandments in public court houses, or their versions of prayer in public schools.]
The Talmud remarks that the order of these announcement reflect the proper conduct of life: First we ought to build a home, then plant a vineyard, or establish alternative sources of income, and only then should we marry.[ Talmud Bavli Tractate Sotah 44a.] This remark indicates that our sages viewed these three announcements as a reflection on the ordinary routine of life
The Talmud remarks that the order of these announcement reflect the proper conduct of life: First we ought to build a home, then plant a vineyard, or establish alternative sources of income, and only then should we marry.[ Talmud Bavli Tractate Sotah 44a.] This remark indicates that our sages viewed these three announcements as a reflection on the ordinary routine of life
Gurkow asks: Why does an army go to war? To protect its national interest. What is a nation's primary interest? It's citizens' unhindered pursuit of life's ordinary routine. When an enemy threatens the ordinary pursuit of day to day life, the nation's very fabric is undermined.
Gurkow posits: In this way, perhaps we can explain the priest's public announcement of these exceptions from battle immediately following his words of encouragement. The troops were reminded of their exalted purpose. Why are we going to war? To enable our comrades to pursue the normal routine of life. So they can build homes, plant vineyards, and establish families.
The troops that were sent home knew that they were entitled to recuse themselves from military draft, but they came anyway. How could they not come? They could not sit home while their brothers fought for their country. It was not easy for them to abandon their brothers and go home.
Yet they were told to do just that. These soldiers, with their departure, validated their comrades' efforts on the battlefields. If they went to war, their comrades would die in vain.
When the enemies of a nation actually attack or threaten to attack, the nation is justified in going to war. but we must offer sincere just peace three times and never attack on all 4 sides, always giving the enemy a chance to retreat, surrender and saves lives.
No argument can justify a cease fire that does not achieve the goals for which the nation set out to war. If our soldiers are not safe, if our borders are still violated and if our cities are still under attack then our war is not over.
We mourn the loss of innocent lives on all sides, our Torah ethic demand it, R. Gurkow states. We pursue the war with a vengeance, till peace can be restored, our Torah ethic demands that too. We do not seek a peace that will lead to another war. We seek a war that will lead to a lasting peace. This is the unfortunate reality fostered upon us by our enemy.
We must embrace life. But if victory is not achieved, then those who have sacrificed their life will have died in vain. We cannot allow that to happen.
Just before the army embarked for war, one last announcement was made. "He who is fearful and fainthearted should return home, lest he melt his brothers' heart as well." There are those who fear the consequences of war, but such fear is intolerable in war. The Torah instructs us to keep such fears silent, lest they melt the hearts of the brave.
According to one of our sages this announcement was directed to sinners. An enemy that God promised to vanquish need only be feared if we were made unworthy by sin.(Talmud Bavli Tractate Sotah 44a)
Israel's destiny is in God's hands, Rabbi Gurkow wisely reminds us. We have no reason to fear our enemy, but we do have reason to fear our own sins. If we fear the odds in this war it is because we are not worthy of God's miracle. The obvious antidote is repentance.
This time of year is conducive to repentance as Yom Kippur is 5 weeks away. So let us repent this year not only for ourselves, but for our entire nation, who's leaders have been using God's name in vain, leading us into quagmires, abroad and at home.
Shalom,
Rabbi Arthur Segal
Hilton Head Island, SC
Bluffton, SC
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