19
votes
Accepted
Tisha b'Av and the First World War
The historian Ismar Elbogen in his "Century of Jewish Life", which he wrote before he passed away in 1943 and was published posthumously, places the beginning of the war on Tisha B'Av of 1914.
But I ...
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17
votes
Accepted
Historically, were women trained for obligatory wars? Or did they serve some other military function?
In his commentary to Rambam's codification of this law (Hilchot Melachim 7:5), R. David Ibn Zimra asks: “Is it the way of women to wage war?” And he cites the verse (Psalms 45:14) "All glorious ...
- 49.1k
16
votes
Is there a Jewish way of war?
There is indeed a Jewish way of war. See Rambam's Mishne Torah Melachim uMilchamot chapter 6 and to some extent 7 and 8.
Some of the key principles are
propose a peaceful settlement first (except for ...
- 47.7k
11
votes
Historically, were women trained for obligatory wars? Or did they serve some other military function?
Yachin there:
אשה לאו בת מלחמה. רק לספק מזון ולתקן הדרכים אף היא יוצאת.
A woman is not able to combat, she did only provide food and repair roads.
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11
votes
Accepted
What should one do to help Israel during war?
HaRav Asher Weiss shlita sent out a clip (in Hebrew) with divrei chizuk and hisorerus on his WhatsApp group (to join - https://chat.whatsapp.com/JSImuTgfWWlEGjwwqgvFSO). It is also now on Torah ...
- 30.1k
9
votes
If don't aspire to be a general cannot be a simple soldier
This saying is quoted in the name of the Chafetz Chaim on multiple websites:
Here's a video in which Rabbi Ovadyah Yosef zt"l says it in his name (from 19:14). And the story is likewise told in ...
- 24.8k
9
votes
Accepted
The Halachic Reasoning Behind the Neturei Karta
This question is far too broad to answer here but the essence of what they follow is based upon the teachings of Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum.
There are two primary sources that lay out their approach. The ...
- 14.2k
9
votes
Was it David's custom to go into battle without an armour?
I wrote an essay a couple of years ago that dealt, in part, with these questions.
The answer to your first question is: Yes and no. David's military uniform depended on which weapon he was using in ...
- 24.8k
8
votes
Why G-d didn't reveal the Israelis a recipe for gunpowder?
God didn't give the Jews a super weapon because he was the super weapon.
The covenant with the Jews is that if the Jews keep the Torah, God will protect them. If God gives them all machine guns with ...
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8
votes
Why G-d didn't reveal the Israelis a recipe for gunpowder?
Besides for the fact that G-D could have helped the Jewish people conquer Israel using 'natural' methods in a quicker manner without giving them futuristic technology, the premise of the question that ...
- 6,753
7
votes
Accepted
Did the Jewish soldiers fast before war?
As it turns out, I think my father-in-law found the answer in שולחן ערוך אֹרח חיים, תקע״א (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Taf Kuf Ayin Aleph)
עִיר שֶׁהִקִּיפוּהָ עַכּוּ''ם, וְכֵן יָחִיד הַנִּרְדָּף ...
- 183
7
votes
Accepted
Responsa/Rabbinic Thought on Israeli Reprisal Operations
Rabbi Shaul Yisraeli wrote a lengthy essay on the subject shortly after Qibiya, published in his book עמוד הימיני, pp. 113-139. He first noted:
"מאז נסתיימה המלחמה ה"רשמית" של מדינות ...
- 24.8k
7
votes
What should one do to help Israel during war?
HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch spoke about the recent events to his talmidims. He said that:
“Each one should go learn because every little bit of limmud Torah can provide salvation. The danger is ...
- 8,592
7
votes
New responsa on releasing terrorists in exchange for hostages?
Following on from our interaction in the comments.
HaRav Asher Weiss shlita has a recording where he discusses the issues at length here.
- 30.1k
6
votes
Which of the Napoleonic wars had no casualties?
This is a reference to the Siege of Pressburg, also known as the Siege of Bratislava, in 1809, which was a little over a month-long Napoleonic campaign that ultimately failed (on Napoleon's part). I ...
- 24.8k
6
votes
When was the war with Amalek?
According to the Seder Olam Rabbah (Chapter 5) - it was during the week which started on the 23rd of Iyyar. There are other Rabbinic sources which indicate that the battle was on a Friday. Since the ...
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6
votes
What do our Rabbis say about wearing a poppy in the button-hole on Armistice Day?
There are Orthodox Rabbis in London who wear poppies and go along to Remembrance Ceremonies and even recite prayers in them.
The poppy is not a form of idolatry but is instead a symbol of "respect" ...
- 3,036
6
votes
where do we learn about the importance of Ahavat Yisrael?
I think the sources you are referring to are:
Yerushalmi Pe'ah, 1, 1
Bemidbar Rabbah 19, 1
Midrash Tanchuma Bemidbar, 19, 4
Devarim Rabbah 5, 10
Here's an example from the Yerushalmi (they're all ...
- 3,825
6
votes
Was there ever a prophet that was also a military commander
Joshua was visited by a malach of extremely lofty level (though he might not have technically been a prophet).
It's also written a few times that God spoke to Joshua, such as in Joshua 1:1-9, 4:2-3, ...
- 61
6
votes
Accepted
Were Kohanim forbidden from serving in King David's army?
This is the subject of an old debate when it comes to kohanim giving conditional divorces. R. Mordechai Ben Hillel wrote that one cannot bring a proof from the fact that kohanim at war gave such ...
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6
votes
Accepted
Malachim of Nations constantly fighting?
I haven't seen anywhere referring to them as "raging bulls". However, I have seen the concept that each nation has its own שר, making 70 שרים (see Sukkah 55b). They are the source for the ...
- 3,210
6
votes
Accepted
IDF ceremony on the Temple Mount
R Shlomo Goren and his autobiography (With might and strength) explains that he was at the Dome of the Rock the day it became liberated and saw it as a special one-time opportunity. He writes he went ...
- 47.7k
6
votes
Accepted
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's trip to Moscow on Shabbat to meet Putin
Short answer: there is a great deal of leeway when we're dealing with this scale of life. (Shabbos 42a talks about "so the public won't be damaged.") When Bennett began his term a while ago, ...
- 131k
5
votes
אשה יפת תואר- BiZman HaZeh?
Sefer Hachinuch Mitsvath 532:
ונוהגת מצוה זו בזמן שישראל על אדמתן, כי אז היתה להם רשות ויכלת בידם להלחם. והעובר על זה ולא עשה המעשים שזכרנו בטל עשה זה.
This commandment is practicable in time ...
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5
votes
What is the connection between "sword and ... bow" (Genesis 48:22) with "prayer and ... supplication" (as rendered by Onkelos)?
The targum Yerushalmi reads, "not with my sword nor with my bow, but through my righteousness and my good works. "
and this all might be explained by the Gemara in Bava Batra 123a:
The baraita ...
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5
votes
Did any rabbis address the theological possibility/implications of nuclear extinction?
The Vilna Gaon (quoted by Dayan Abramsky) famously said: "the war of Gog and Magog will last 12 minutes. A third of the world will die, a third will suffer from plague and a third will survive."
...
- 7,851
5
votes
Did any rabbis address the theological possibility/implications of nuclear extinction?
In a public address by Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe z"l (circa 1981), at which I was present, he told the crowd, that he can assure them that there will never be nuclear extinction.
He explained, that he is ...
- 4,892
5
votes
Why didn't Moses fight Amalek himself?
The Chizkuni on this pasuk explains that during a war, it is common practice for a leader to just "watch" the other men fight, while being positioned on a hill or mountain, to encourage the ...
- 8,592
4
votes
Vilna Gaon, Gog and Magog war and Hoshana Rabba
The writing from the Vilna Gaon are most likely referring to the sealed letter which the Gaon wanted opened 100 years after his passing. It can be found in the Rav Menachem Kasher edition of Sefer Kol ...
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4
votes
Why was Joshua allowed to break Shabbat in attacking Yericho?
Rashi indeed says that the 7th day of encircling Yericho was on Shabbos.
Rashi on Yehoshua 6:15:
"ביום השביעי" - שבת היה
This siege was permitted on Shabbos for the Sake of Milchemes ...
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