[Avodah] Who is a Talmid Chacham

[Doron Beckerman]

Let's get some clarity here. There are a few issues at hand:
a) Drafting Talmidei Chachamim to the army when not in active war.
b) Are they miraculously immune to harm in the event of attack.
c) Talmidei Chachamim fighting in active battle.

Issue a) is connected to Bava Basra 8a, (and Bava Metzia 108). There is a
Machlokes whether that relates to theft or also to Nefashos, but the
majority opinion is that it applies to Nefashos as well. Rashi in Bava
Metzia ad loc. says as much - "Tz'va Son'im La'ir." Rabbanan have no need
from protection from *potential* attacks, which are a constant threat. The
comparison is to walls and watchmen which are deterrents, obstacles. People
learning Torah erect such walls around themselves.

But, to relate to issue b), nobody says that their defense is completely
impregnable, any more than a wall or a watchman. They are not miraculously
protected in the event of bullets being shot at them, or Izevels
threatening to kill them.

Regarding Talmidei Chachamim during *active war.* Here, Bava Basra 8 is
inapplicable. But Shevet Levi status is. Makos 10 - "Omdos Hayu Ragleinu"
is. Assa being punished for Angarya BeTalmidei Chachamim is. Is there value
in Talmidei Chachamim *during war* learning to provide merit? Does it
provide protection and help the soldiers? Yes. Are they immune - no. Not
any more than any soldier is.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.aishdas.org/pipermail/avodah-aishdas.org/attachments/20120705/a22d1605/attachment-0002.htm>