[Avodah] border issues.....pikauch nefesh??

[Micha Berger]

On Tue, May 31, 2011 at 09:38:04AM -0400, Hankman wrote:
: I think we might be glossing over a central matter as a practical issue
: in our day. What exactly is the definition of the "border" in today's
: geography and demography. Is it the kedusha rishona or the k. shenia
: of the olei Bavel, or that of the kivush of the Chashmonaim....     Or
: is it some current line we might care to define by modern realities of
: war (1948, 1967, 1973 etc), demography (of which period?) or National
: and/or International law (Turk Emp., Balfour, Mandate, Israeli Law,
: UN resolutions or current IL?)...

It has been assumed here that we're really talking about safety,
that protecting arei sefar is actually a triage approach to saqanas
nefashos. What would maximize the probability of survival for the
most Jews? (Without unduly risking others.)

In which case, it's a matter for generals and perhaps politicians (if you
can find one you feel comfortable assuming can give an objective answer)
to decide, nothing to do with qedushah, with historical or legal borders,
etc...

And yes, it would mean that
:                ... also then further entangle the issue of self defense
: in Chutz La'Aretz becoming a milchemes mitzva if for example the Jews of
: say BoroPark were under siege as opposed to the Jews of a kibbutz near
: Gaza....

I like the idea of this, since it would make such milkhamos far easier to
understand in terms of native (intuitive) ethics. You can risk m lives to
save n > m lives. But without a source, that doesn't mean it's correct.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Today is the 42nd day, which is
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