Questions tagged [army-military-war]
Questions about armed conflict and armed services.
142
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1answer
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Why Me'arat Hamachpela was bought by Avraham and not conquered?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not an aggressor, but conquest and war are always in our set of tools (see Yaakov's preparations to meeting his brother).
IIRC Hittim people were idolaters and doomed to be ...
1
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0answers
41 views
Can the definition of a “rodef” be applied to any member of a terrorist group?
One is permitted to kill a rodef - someone who is planning to kill you.
What are the parameters of identifying someone as a rodef when he is a member of a terrorist or any other group?
Examples
If ...
3
votes
0answers
38 views
What is the halacha if a Jew injures another Jew during battle training?
I am not aware of any information in the written or oral Torah which discusses what was involved in preparing Jewish army troops for battle, but I assume that soldiers would spar with each other and ...
4
votes
1answer
116 views
Status of children born from a yefat toar who was converted to judaism after the 30 day period
In parshat Ki Teietze it talks about the yefat torah.
If after the 30 days if he still wants to marry her, she is converted to judaism, then he can marry her.
Question: Is this conversion a regular ...
3
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0answers
48 views
What age should be a Goy to be spared and how it is determined?
אִם־לֹא תַשְׁלִים עִמָּךְ וְעָשְׂתָה עִמְּךָ מִלְחָמָה וְצַרְתָּ עָלֶיהָּ׃
וּנְתָנָהּ ה"א בְּיָדֶךָ וְהִכִּיתָ אֶת־כָּל־זְכוּרָהּ לְפִי־חָרֶב׃
רַק הַנָּשִׁים וְהַטַּף וְהַבְּהֵמָה וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר ...
-1
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2answers
78 views
Why fight the Midianites with such a huge army?
G-d promises the Israeli Nation that (Lev 26,6):
וְרָדְפוּ מִכֶּם חֲמִשָּׁה מֵאָה, וּמֵאָה מִכֶּם רְבָבָה יִרְדֹּפוּ
וְנָפְלוּ אֹיְבֵיכֶם לִפְנֵיכֶם לֶחָרֶב׃
Five of you shall give chase to ...
-6
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4answers
170 views
Why G-d didn't reveal the Israelis a recipe for gunpowder?
I think that would change the balance of power dramatically and ensure fast and effortless conquer of the Promised Land.
For those (interpreters and those of you) who hold that the conquest had to be ...
0
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0answers
37 views
Did the Israelites train for war in the desert?
During their forty-year trek in the desert, the Israelites knew they would have to fight their way into their promised land. Did they train for war during that time? Being former slaves, they had no ...
2
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0answers
24 views
Halachic ground for opening an voluntary war against other nations
Jews are Halachicly allowed to start a voluntary war to conquer and enslave other nations and to expand the Jewish kingdom (Rambam Melachim 5).
As the Halachah forbids both killing and robbing non-...
1
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0answers
70 views
Does Milchemet Mitzvah (obligatory war) require a King?
אֵין הַמֶּלֶךְ נִלְחָם תְּחִלָּה אֶלָּא מִלְחֶמֶת מִצְוָה.
וְאֵי זוֹ הִיא מִלְחֶמֶת מִצְוָה?
זוֹ מִלְחֶמֶת שִׁבְעָה עֲמָמִים. וּמִלְחֶמֶת עֲמָלֵק.
וְעֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִיַּד צָר ...
0
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0answers
66 views
Rabbinic responsa on Remembering the fallen IDF soldiers
I know it is a heavy and very "politically" loaded question, but I'd try my best to formulate it in a most neutral way:
24 thousands of R' Akivah students allegedly died of their own sins some 2000 ...
13
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2answers
2k views
Historically, were women trained for obligatory wars? Or did they serve some other military function?
Sotah 8:7 says that for obligatory wars all go out to fight, "even a bridegroom from his chamber and a bride from her canopy". Historically, was this in fact our practice? Did women participate in ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Does any ongoing transgression exempt one from going to war?
We know from Devarim 20:8 that someone who is "fearful and faint-hearted" is sent home from battle (in optional wars) lest he demoralize others. In Sotah 8:5 Rabbi Yose the Galilean says this refers ...
4
votes
1answer
563 views
Were Kohanim forbidden from serving in King David's army?
The gemara in a couple places (Shabbos 56a, Kesuvos 9b) tells us that before leaving to battle, the soldiers in King David's army would give a conditional get to their wives in order to prevent a ...
4
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2answers
94 views
Who did the Jews fight on Purim if nobody could oppose them?
נִקְהֲלוּ הַיְּהוּדִים בְּעָרֵיהֶם בְּכָל־מְדִינוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ אֳחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ לִשְׁלֹחַ יָד בִּמְבַקְשֵׁי רָעָתָם וְאִישׁ לֹא־עָמַד לִפְנֵיהֶם כִּי־נָפַל פַּחְדָּם עַל־כָּל־הָעַמִּים׃ (Ester 9.5
...
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1answer
32 views
Mordechay's decree: “kill women and children, AND/OR plunder their possessions”?
I'm a bit confused here, so maybe the title is not worded well.
Achashverosh let Mordechay write the letters to his own wording:
"ואתם כתבו על־היהודים כטוב בעיניכם בשם המלך"
And you may ...
0
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1answer
66 views
Does the mitzvah of eradicating Amalek supersede Shabbos?
The Sefer Chinuch 604 tells us we have a mitzvah to wipe out Amalek.
למחות זרעו מן העולם - שנצטוינו למחות זרעו של עמלק ולאבד זכרו מן העולם, זכר ונקבה, גדול וקטן, ועל זה נאמר (דברים כה יט) ''תמחה את ...
0
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0answers
40 views
Gedoley Israel's views on the army service in Israel
There are many Haredim who refuse to join the Army.
What are the opinions of Contemporary Gedolei Israel on Bachurei Yeshivot to join the Israeli army?
6
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0answers
97 views
When did a Jew last marry a woman captured in war?
What is the last recorded case of a Jew marrying a woman captured in war, as allowed by the Torah [Deut. 21:10-14]? Anybody more recent than King David, as mentioned in Sanhedrin 21a and Kiddushin ...
4
votes
2answers
104 views
What is the Halacha on collateral damage in a time of war?
Hypothetically, if the IDF was a “halachically run” military force; what would be the Halacha against killing innocents?
For example, there is a famous case of the ל"ה troops during the Israeli war ...
7
votes
3answers
170 views
Did any rabbis address the theological possibility/implications of nuclear extinction?
During the Cold War, plenty of people were aware (I think?) that detonating enough nuclear bombs could lead to human extinction. Did any rabbis address whether the belief that Moshiach will come mean ...
0
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1answer
129 views
Pretty woman - is it a test or a Mitzvah
The sources talk a lot about the procedure of "אשת יפת תואר" (like Rambam Melachim 8,2 and on).
So for the soldiers, is the Pretty Woman allowed but "bad" (like "Patur but Ossur", see Rashi's ...
2
votes
1answer
36 views
Roles of the Cohen and Judges involved in speaking to the people prior to war
In Devarim 20:2-4, the Cohen speaks to the people and gives an general comment not to fear the enemy.
Then, in verse 5, the judges speak to the people and exempt 4 groups of people from the army, and ...
4
votes
2answers
38 views
Apparent wrong arrangement of war instructions in Devarim 20:1-9
While reviewing the instructions that the Cohen tells people prior to going to war, as shown in Devarim 20:1-9, there seems to be an incorrect order of statements. In particular:
Verse 3 - The Cohen ...
5
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5answers
156 views
What is the connection between “sword and … bow” (Genesis 48:22) with “prayer and … supplication” (as rendered by Onkelos)?
What is the connection between "sword and ... bow" (Genesis 48:22) with "prayer and ... supplication" (as rendered by Onkelos)?
Verse:
וַאֲנִי נָתַתִּי לְךָ שְׁכֶם אַחַד עַל אַחֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר ...
2
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0answers
68 views
Jew Vs Jew in non-Jewish war
We know that throughout recent history, Jews were conscripted into non-Jewish armies. Are Jews allowed to join those armies or at the very least are they allowed to fight in those armies battles - ...
4
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0answers
40 views
How did the Shofar announcements work?
In this week's Parsha - יִתְרוֹ - we have the first occurrence (AFAIK) of the Shofar blast announcing something. בִּמְשֹׁךְ הַיֹּבֵל הֵמָּה יַעֲלוּ בָהָר. When you hear the long shofar sound, you may ...
4
votes
1answer
63 views
Why were the Jews commanded to destroy fruit trees when attacking Moav?
In 2 Melachim 3:24-25 it says
They entered the Israelite camp, and the Israelites arose and attacked the Moabites, who fled before them. They advanced, constantly attacking the Moabites,
and they ...
1
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1answer
55 views
Explanation of Gemara on why the Jews were only commanded to attack Midian and not Moav
In Bamidbar 25:16-18, Hashem commands Moshe to take revenge on Midian for having caused the Jews to sin at Shittim, discussed at the beginning of the chapter. Yet v. 1 seems to indicate that the Jews ...
0
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1answer
52 views
Explanation of Kli Yakar on why the Jews were only commanded to attack Midian and not Moav
In Bamidbar 25:16-18, Hashem commands Moshe to take revenge on Midian for having caused the Jews to sin at Shittim, discussed at the beginning of the chapter. Yet v. 1 seems to indicate that the Jews ...
9
votes
1answer
370 views
The Halachic Reasoning Behind the Neturei Karta
The Neturei Karta is a group of Haredim who believe that the creation of the State of Israel is against Torah, claiming that Jews are forbidden to have their own country until Moshiach comes.
They ...
0
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4answers
168 views
Was there ever a prophet that was also a military commander
Was there ever a prophet in Tanach that made a known prophecy and was also referred to as a military commander?
4
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0answers
86 views
How is yefas to'ar fair to the woman?
At the beginning of Ki Seitzei (Devarim 21:10-14), the Torah permits a soldier at war to take a woman from the captives as a wife, but only after he shaves her head, grows out her nails, removes her ...
2
votes
1answer
102 views
Why do we fast on Taanis Esther in particular?
I am aware that according to the Avudraham, the fast commemorates the war in the Purim story.
According to this answer, why is Taanis Esther unique that we fast in memory of the war, when there are ...
1
vote
1answer
78 views
The Great War in Contemporary Acharonic Thought
I've recently acquired a book (rather a large pamphlet) about the Great War (1914-18) entitled "The War and the Bible" by HG. Enelow (then head of the Reform Temple Emanu-el in NYC). However, this ...
16
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1answer
324 views
Tisha b'Av and the First World War
There is a curious idea floating around, that World War One commenced on the 9th day of the month of Av. (For example, here, and here, and here.)
I call it curious, since it takes a fairly creative ...
0
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0answers
52 views
If don't aspire to be a general cannot be a simple soldier
I believe I read this saying (originally said by Napoleon) by one of the Gedolim (torah leaders) with respect to one's religious service. Could be it was the Chafetz Chaim. Looking for a source.
the ...
9
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2answers
107 views
Did the Jewish soldiers fast before war?
The Mishna Berura in תרפו, ב talks about how in the days of Mordechai and Esther the Jews must have fasted because it was a time when they needed mercy just like when the Jews went to war against ...
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0answers
84 views
Why will Moshiach fight in wars?
According to Prophet Isaiah of blessed memory when Moshiach comes there will be no more wars but according to the Rambam of blessed memory one of the ways to know if somebody is Moshiach is if he ...
5
votes
1answer
150 views
Question on Magog son of Yefes and Gog uMagog
Is the nation of Magog the same Magog as the Magog in Gog uMagog?
3
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0answers
36 views
David's Amalekites [duplicate]
In I Samuel 15, it records that King Saul wiped out all of Amalek, besides the king who was killed after a short period of time.
Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and ...
1
vote
1answer
817 views
Nebuchadnezzar II failure to conquer Egypt
Ezekiel 29:19 states the G-d will give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar II.
Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off ...
2
votes
1answer
138 views
Shaved or Trimmed
וַהֲבֵאתָהּ, אֶל-תּוֹךְ בֵּיתֶךָ; וְגִלְּחָה, אֶת-רֹאשָׁהּ, וְעָשְׂתָה, אֶת-צִפָּרְנֶיהָ.
In Deuteronmy 21:12, the JPS translates גלחה as “she shall trim her hair”. The entire verse translated in the JPS ...
3
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0answers
83 views
Why is there a Sephardic belief that eating seuda shelishit would in part protect you from the goings on at Gog and Magog?
I read this in a siddur at a Sephardic Shul yesterday. The women around me agreed wholeheartedly with the statement, stating that it's Halacha.
I don't see the connection, other than the idea that ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
where do we learn about the importance of Ahavat Yisrael?
I'm looking for two specific sources related to this topic.
where is it written that when the Jews were all "keeping TORAH" but didn't have Ahavat Yisrael, they lost all battles.
where is it ...
2
votes
2answers
146 views
אשה יפת תואר- BiZman HaZeh?
In the beginning of Parshas Ki Seitzei we learn about the topic of אשה יפת תואר (Deutoronomy 21:10-15).
My question is: does this passage apply (in any way) to us nowadays ?
5
votes
1answer
123 views
Source for story about the Maskilim's play mocking what the “orchei hamilchama” would look like according to chazal
Does anyone know of a reliable source for the story about how the Maskilim made a play to mock what a milchama would look like according to the torah/chazal, in which they depicted only the Chofetz ...
4
votes
2answers
173 views
Does the book of Daniel accurately date the war with Babylon?
According to Wikipedia:
The introductory verses tell how, in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim (606 BCE), Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were among the young Jewish ...
0
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0answers
37 views
Why does Avraham's Torah protect before battle reaches him more than Yaakov's g'milas chasadim?
In the Haamek Davar on Lech L'cha 12:17, the author tells us
a rule you should understand for all the subsequent sections of Genesis, the "book of the upright", Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: that it ...
1
vote
1answer
389 views
What do our Rabbis say about wearing a poppy in the button-hole on Armistice Day?
The British Legion appeals for funds (called the Poppy Appeal) around Armistice Day (11 November) each year. People donate to the activities of the Legion and are given a paper/plastic poppy to wear.
...
