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<DIV>RJB writes: <BR>>>Military service in Tzahal (IDF) would seem to be a
mitzva as per<BR>the gemara in Sotah 44b. .... (see: Radbaz Hilchot
Melachim 7:4).<BR>See also the Minchat Chinuch (Mitzva 425) who goes into detail
on the<BR>laws of war.... Even a talmid chacham is obligated to serve (see:
Chidushei Chatam Sofer on<BR>the gemara in Bava Batra 7b ....<<</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> ....see Bava Batra Perek Aleph Siman 475]; SHU'T haRadbaz Chelek Bet
Siman 752).<BR><BR>Look at Shmuel haNagid (Abu Ibrahim Shmuel ben Yosef halevi
Ibn Nagrela,<BR>993-1056 C.E.), one of the leaders of Spanish Jewry..... a
great<BR>talmudic scholar and commander in chief<BR>of the army of Granada
<<<BR>Josh<BR><BR></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>>>>>></DIV>
<DIV>Your reasoning is impeccable and your sources unimpeachable. I wonder
if Rav Elyashiv knows about this.</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><BR><B>--Toby
Katz<BR>=============</B></FONT></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Get a sneak peek of the all-new <A title="http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour/?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000982" href="http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour/?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000982" target="_blank">AOL.com</A>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>