Jewish Army

The holiday of Pesach celebrates the establishment of the Jewish people as a nation with a specific destiny. This destiny would be challenged throughout our history as there would be enemies in each generation wishing to destroy us.

From the time we left Egypt, until the Bar Kochba rebellion in 130 c.e., there was always a Jewish army that fought to defend Israel’s right to exist. There is even an opinion that the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva who died in a plague, actually fell in battle as part of Bar Kochba’s army. This was a period of 1440 years. It was a given that all Jews fought in a “Milchemet Mitzva,” an obligatory war. The ideal soldier would have been like King David. He would be both a scholar and a warrior.

During the years that followed 130 c.e., the Jewish people survived without an army of any kind. Our bitter Galut, exile, forced us to wander from place to place, and suffer terrible persecution. We survived miraculously because of our faith and strict adherence to the Torah.

When the Jewish state was established in 1948, it became mandatory to revive the notion of a Jewish army. The mistaken idea that Torah scholars would be exempt from such an army might be understood in the context that 1818 years had passed from the last known time of a formal Jewish army.

It is clear that the scholar-warriors of today, fulfill an extremely important role in Israeli society. They are the unifiers who make a huge impact on all of Israeli society. They are able to showcase religion to the secular society of Israel. The army is the place where there is no societal demarcations. They are one family, looking after one another. Nevertheless, the religious soldiers set the example of how to be spiritual and deeply religious while defending their country.

This is demonstrated by a Midrash brought by Rabbi Taragin that describes a dialogue between Hashem and King David. Hashem tells David that the imminent victory in battle is שלי ושלך הניצחון . The victory is a joint effort. It belongs to David as well as G-d. U.S.

History is unfolding before our very eyes. It is clear that the IDF will carry a significant role in bringing about the redemption that we long for so much.