Rabbi Howard Morrison

"War and Peace" - The ethics of the IDF

The origin of Jewish warfare ethics stems from today's portion of Shoftim. The Torah clearly states that when the Israelites were to approach a city to wage battle, it first had to do everything possible to achieve peace and avoid war. When the Torah requires the sparing of fruit bearing trees, this Mitzvah includes sparing civilians and allowing an open path for them to escape.

Subsequent Jewish law is succinctly explained by Maimonides and others. Jewish law distinguishes between optional war, which is unfunctional today. It required monarchy and expansion of borders. Rather, what is functional today is called obligatory war, which is defensive in nature.

The same Torah law we read about this morning is preserved throughout history to this very day. Aspirations for genuine peace and the safety of civilians are paramount.

I firmly believe that the IDF has always adhered to such Torah values. Peace has always been first and foremost. When peace has been unavoidable, Israel has enabled safe passages for civilians and issued warnings of eventual conflict thru leaflets and social media. What other nation gives such warning in advance?

Israel, like no other, tries to avoid civilian loss at all costs. Contrast Israel's ethics to its beastly enemies:

It is just tragic and inexplicable that evil Hamas brutally murdered Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Alex Lobanov, and Ori Danino - when they were miraculously still alive two days before being brutally slain.

It is just tragic and inexplicable that murder and hostage taking took place at all on October 7th.

It is just tragic and inexplicable that evil Hamas and Hezbollah conceal terrorists and weaponry amongst civilians and underneath alleged hospitals, schools, and mosques. 

It is just tragic and inexplicable that evil terrorists block passage from harm to safety among its member population.

With the beginning of Elul, and the HHD under a month away, we continue to strive for peace, the release of our remaining hostages, and a cessation of war.

Let us be proud of the IDF, most of whom are young people serving on the front lines North and South.

Let us mourn the hundreds of IDF personnel lost in the past eleven months.

Let us mourn the six precious souls whose lives were taken last week, and the many other hostage souls whose lives have been taken over the past eleven months. 

Let us mourn all the precious innocent lives which have been taken on October 7^th and beyond by acts of terror and evil.

A week ago while in the U.S., I, a retiree of the U.S. Air Force chaplaincy, was invited to meet with a group of American military retirees. Many took great risk in World War II, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. Many lost comrades in arms. The ones I met are truly heroes.

So too, our IDF personnel, past and present, are heroes. We support them with pride and cherish the memories of their comrades in arms.

Nobody wants war. Our Torah and tradition are realistic about the extreme conequences of  free choice. Israel's situation now with Hamas, Hezbolah, Lebanon, and Iran has left no alternative.

Unlike the evil and terror perpetrated by others, ours is an ethical approach, defensive and thus obligatory in nature, in which Israel tries to protect innocent civilians in situations where the enemy does not protect its own. 

May the conclusion of 5784 bring about a culmination of the last eleven months. 

May the rest of our hostages come back home and hopefully alive.

May the efforts, prayers  and sounds for genuine peace be at last heard and fulfilled.

Am Yisrael Chai!

Shabbat Shalom 

Rabbi Howard Morrison