The great contradiction of Zionism is that given the neighborhood, creating a "militaristic society" is almost a requirement. Any nation, every nation that wants secure borders must have the ability to defend them.
Put another way: as soon as the Israeli flag goes up, G*d can say: "I have fulfilled my end of the Covenant because I have brought you into the Promised Land. But what happens next is on you."
A militarized Jewish state is not an answer as much as a question: If you object to the existence of a militarized Jewish state, then why don't you object to *all* the militarized states?
This is true, a nation state must be able to defend its borders. Rabbi Sacks wrote about the parable of tribes and the need for the less violent to become moreso in order to meet the violent tribe. There’s no moral solution.
Perhaps modern military infrastructure is an unfortunate necessity. I think it is however it needs great expertise etc as Lee wrote. I personally have mixed feelings about the military. I think it has benefits and it does great harm.
Ultimately tho I’m a woman and mother so the military is a giant monster that devours life that women made and toil to sustain. I acknowledge the necessity of a military. I am generally one who finds the association of G-d and military distasteful. However the IDF is quite remarkable and obviously entirely necessary.
I have many opinions about this and they conflict I’m a bit insufferable I’m afraid. 😆😵💫
I suspect Lee might have an altogether different response than mine.
Not insufferable at all! 😊 I feel your pain. I remember when I returned from my first trip to Israel. I was bursting with ideas and questions. At the suggestion of a friend, I went to visit a local Jewish scholar, who eventually was telling me about the finer points of… the ethics of aerial bombing (!!). Totally threw me for a loop. Still does, in a way. … Thanks for sharing this piece.
The first time I heard that phrasing -- the "ethics of aerial bombing" -- I was appalled, especially since I heard it from a rabbi. I couldn't believe that our Story had become so unhinged. But over time I understood it a bit better. Yes, aerial bombing is a nightmare, by definition. But self-defense is not. There's nothing in Jewish law that says: "Lay down your arms and let your enemies slaughter you." (Although Christian teachings certainly are infused with such a pacifism, history if filled with examples of good Christians defending themselves against people that want them dead.) ... Given this unredeemed world, you're then faced with a challenge: If you're going to defend yourself, your family, and your country, is there a way to do so ethically -- a way to protect yourself that causes a minimum loss of life. ... I'm no rabbi, but I think that's what "the ethics of aerial bombing might mean.
The great contradiction of Zionism is that given the neighborhood, creating a "militaristic society" is almost a requirement. Any nation, every nation that wants secure borders must have the ability to defend them.
Put another way: as soon as the Israeli flag goes up, G*d can say: "I have fulfilled my end of the Covenant because I have brought you into the Promised Land. But what happens next is on you."
A militarized Jewish state is not an answer as much as a question: If you object to the existence of a militarized Jewish state, then why don't you object to *all* the militarized states?
This is true, a nation state must be able to defend its borders. Rabbi Sacks wrote about the parable of tribes and the need for the less violent to become moreso in order to meet the violent tribe. There’s no moral solution.
Perhaps modern military infrastructure is an unfortunate necessity. I think it is however it needs great expertise etc as Lee wrote. I personally have mixed feelings about the military. I think it has benefits and it does great harm.
Ultimately tho I’m a woman and mother so the military is a giant monster that devours life that women made and toil to sustain. I acknowledge the necessity of a military. I am generally one who finds the association of G-d and military distasteful. However the IDF is quite remarkable and obviously entirely necessary.
I have many opinions about this and they conflict I’m a bit insufferable I’m afraid. 😆😵💫
I suspect Lee might have an altogether different response than mine.
Not insufferable at all! 😊 I feel your pain. I remember when I returned from my first trip to Israel. I was bursting with ideas and questions. At the suggestion of a friend, I went to visit a local Jewish scholar, who eventually was telling me about the finer points of… the ethics of aerial bombing (!!). Totally threw me for a loop. Still does, in a way. … Thanks for sharing this piece.
I would like to hear about that - ethics of aerial bombing
The first time I heard that phrasing -- the "ethics of aerial bombing" -- I was appalled, especially since I heard it from a rabbi. I couldn't believe that our Story had become so unhinged. But over time I understood it a bit better. Yes, aerial bombing is a nightmare, by definition. But self-defense is not. There's nothing in Jewish law that says: "Lay down your arms and let your enemies slaughter you." (Although Christian teachings certainly are infused with such a pacifism, history if filled with examples of good Christians defending themselves against people that want them dead.) ... Given this unredeemed world, you're then faced with a challenge: If you're going to defend yourself, your family, and your country, is there a way to do so ethically -- a way to protect yourself that causes a minimum loss of life. ... I'm no rabbi, but I think that's what "the ethics of aerial bombing might mean.