Posted on 07/31/2006 10:17:59 AM PDT by mjp
Judaism does not regard violence and war to promote justice as always wrong. It accepts that certain kinds of war will be ethically justified, and that it is sometimes morally acceptable to kill people.
Before declaring war or starting a battle there must be a genuine attempt to make peace and avoid the conflict.
Jewish law only permits combatants to be deliberately killed in war. Innocent civilians must be given every opportunity to leave the field of combat before a battle starts.
Old Testament In much of the Old Testament God gives his clear approval to war. He is identified as a warrior, and is shown as leading the Jews in conflict, bringing them victory, protecting them from enemy forces.
But at the same time the Old Testament is filled with Jewish longing for peace.
"They shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" Isaiah 2.
Peace Peace is seen as something that comes from God and that will only be fully realised when there is justice and harmony not just between peoples, but within individual communities.
Some of the present day arguments put forwards in the context of terrorism take up this idea that there can be no real peace without justice for all.The importance of peace to the Jewish people is emphasised by "Shalom", the conventional greeting between Jews from the earliest times, which means "peace".
Self-defence The Talmud states that a person (a Jew or a non-Jew) is permitted to kill "a pursuer" to save his own life. This ruling applies to both individuals and groups of people (including states).
The Rabbis The ancient rabbis thought that there were three types of war that a Jewish state should consider:
* Obligatory Wars: These are wars that God commanded Jews to fight. They include the biblical wars against the Canaanites and against the Amalekites.
* Defensive Wars: (These are also obligatory.) If the Jewish people are attacked, they are obliged to defend themselves.
This doctrine covers pre-emptive strikes (which is when a country attacks an enemy who is about to attack it).
o Some writers think that a war of self-defence doesn't count as a war, but is merely the normal action that can be taken under the Jewish law dealing with attackers and based on Genesis 9:6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed." (see above)
* Optional Wars: These are wars undertaken for a good reason, and where no other form of "negotiation" remains possible.
The Rules of War The Jewish tradition is clear that before declaring war, or starting a battle, there must be an attempt to make peace - any military action without doing this is probably unlawful (Deuteronomy 20:10).
Only combatants are allowed to be killed intentionally in war. Military commanders should give non-combatants a good chance to leave the combat area before the battle starts. (This is usually impractical in modern warfare.)
However some authorities say that if a non-combatant knowingly stays in a place where a battle is about to take place, they lose their protection.
Shalom through superior firepower.
Is it necessary to point out that this is a highly selective reading of the Old Testament?
The laws of war outlined in the OT are even more violent than those of the Koran. The problem is that today's Muslims continue to act on the Koranic laws of war, while the Jews have "interpreted" their's out of recognition. (Which is a good thing.)
The God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament.
Only a fool doesn't defend himself.
Ping
The secular government of Israel does not abide by Jewish law, which is more complicated than this article suggests. And the socialist establishment in the Israeli military is even less interested in Jewish law.
Murder is wrong. Killing is necessary.
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
Defeat is not an option.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel.
also Keywords 2006israelwar or WOT [War on Terror]
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Even a quick read of the Book of Ecclesiastes tells one of "a time to kill, and a time to heal".
At at this particular point in time ... well the healing will have to come later.
Prayers for peace in that troubled land.
A completely false statement: the "god" of the Old Testament never existed, save in the false religion of those who wrote Old Testament mythology.
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