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<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>R'nLL wrote:</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV>Defending borders is<BR>halakhically an issue of self-defense. Expanding
borders is kibush<BR>ha-aretz, but I don't know of any source that says
defending border<BR>towns is anything but an unqualified
obligation.<BR><BR>>IOW the above all paskened like the Rambam, that mitzvas
kibbush<BR>>ha'aretz does not apply bizman hazeh.<BR><BR>But the subject here
is border issues. I don't see how that relates to<BR>kibush ha-aretz in any
way.<BR><BR><FONT face=Calibri>CM comments:</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>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 and if so, how well
(or poorly) defined are either of these borders in our time? 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?). If it is the mere presence of Jews in some
particular area then you conflate the border issue to the self defense issue,
and 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 suspect that many
will want to scoff at the idea that recent influences have a bearing on the
issue of halachic borders that we do or do not have to defend, I am not
sure that is the case.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Kol tuv</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>Chaim Manaster</FONT></DIV>
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