[Avodah] Why is Milchemes Reshus allowed?

[Micha Berger]

On Sat, July 28, 2007 11:36 pm, kennethgmiller at juno.com wrote:
: What is the rationale behind a milchemes reshus?
...
: And for what purpose? To increase our territory? If our melech wants
: the extra territory because he feels threatened and needs more secure
: borders (as in 1967) one could argue that it is a milchemes *mitzva*.
: The milchemes *reshus* situation sounds like he wants extra territory
: merely for reasons of prestige. Why are we not offended by this
: concept?

Prestige? Living space. People die if the economy fails to thrive.
More people die in extreme weather, infant mortality is worse when
food isn't as available, lifespans decrease with every disinsentive to
see a doctor.

That's not as immediate, must be done now or we'll die, as a michemes
mitzvah, but it really is about lives. And a wise king needs to know
when to exercise that reshus to minimize death overall.

Tir'u baTov!
-mi

-- 
Micha Berger             Spirituality is like a bird: if you tighten
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