[Avodah] Charedim and the army

[Dr. Josh Backon]

[Bounced from AREIVIM at the request of the moderators]

R. Ben Waxman had asked:

>I can't say that I really understand this discussion.  People with
>families shouldn't be drafted, the army should change in this way or
>that way, who wants soldiers with low motivation anyway, and on an
>on. These questions are all secondary or tertiary. The first question
>to be asked is it mandatory for Jewish males to serve the Israeli
>Defense Forces at this time. The answer is yes or no. If there answer
>is yes, then people have to deal with that. If it is not mandatory,
>then b'seder all of these other points can be taken into consideration.
>
>I never delved into this point, but years ago one of my ram'im told
>me that there is no written tshevua on the subject of talmud torah



Military service in Tzahal (IDF) would seem to be a mitzva as per
the gemara in Sotah 44b. The definition of "milchemet mitzva"
is to fight defensive wars against an attacker and to ensure that
Israel remains under Jewish rule (see: Radbaz Hilchot Melachim 7:4).
See also the Minchat Chinuch (Mitzva 425) who goes into detail on the
laws of war. War is required in what's termed a "Milchemet Mitzva" and
is permitted in what's termed a "Milchemet Reshut".

Even a talmid chacham is obligated to serve (see: Chidushei Chatam Sofer on
the gemara in Bava Batra 7b [appears on 8a d"h menadeh]. He indicates
that a talmid chacham is *not* exempt from an act that prevents
danger e.g. guard duty and I quote: "aval shmira k'derech shemalchut
nishmarim ... gam talmid chacham chayav k'd'mocheach Mi'haMordechai
Bava Batra Perek Aleph Siman 475]; SHU'T haRadbaz Chelek Bet Siman 752).

Look at Shmuel haNagid (Abu Ibrahim Shmuel ben Yosef halevi Ibn Nagrela,
993-1056 C.E.), one of the leaders of Spanish Jewry. He was not only a great
talmudic scholar (he wrote the Sefer Hilcheta Gavrata which was a major
influence on the RIF (Rav Yitzchak Alfassi) and the Introduction to the
Talmud) but the prime minister (Vizier) of Granada and commander in chief
of the army of Granada where as military leader he won a major battle
in 1038 against the army of Almeria and a major victory in 1039 over the
army of Seville.

He wasn't exactly kvetching in a yeshiva all day :-)

KT

Josh