Tell these midgets they are the ones destroying Klal Yisroel!
The Mishnah (Sotah 8:4–5 [44b]) explains: “When do exemptions apply? In a milchemet reshut [a discretionary war]; however, in a milchemet mitzvah, [a war that is a mitzvah], everyone must participate, even a chatan from his chamber and a kallah from her chuppah.” Rambam (Hilchot Melachim 7:4) codifies these exemptions for a milchemet reshut, and says that in a milchemet mitzvah there is universal conscription.4 The Chazon Ish (Moed 114:3 [p. 167]) asserts that in a milchemet mitzvah all are obligated to participate, even if the war effort does not require them; and in a milchemet reshut, everyone who is needed is required to join.
What defines a milchemet mitzvah? The Gemara (Sotah 44b) gives only one example: the war Yehoshua waged to conquer the Land of Israel. Rambam adds two other examples (Hilchot Melachim 5:1): “What is considered milchemet mitzvah? This is the war against the Seven Nations [to conquer the Land], the war against Amalek, and saving Israel from an enemy who attacks them.”
The Ramban expands the category of milchemet mitzvah. Based on his understanding that Bamidbar 33:53 (“And you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the Land, and dwell therein . . .”) is an imperative and not a promise, the Ramban includes in his list of mitzvot that he believes Rambam omitted a commandment to conquer and settle the Land of Israel (positive mitzvah 4). Because of this, he understands the Gemara’s example of Yehoshua’s war to conquer the Land not as specific, but as paradigmatic, and thus any war to liberate the Land of Israel is a milchemet mitzvah.6 The Ramban explicitly says that this applies in every generation, implying that there is no requirement for a king, Beit Hamikdash, Sanhedrin, et cetera.
Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Waldenberg (d. 2006; Tzitz Eliezer 3:9:2:10 and 3:9:2: summary:16) says that based on this Ramban, the wars of the State of Israel to liberate and maintain control of the Land are milchemet mitzvah and (7:48: Kuntrus Orchot Hamishpatim:12) that because Israel is under constant attack, Rambam would agree that Israel’s wars are milchemet mitzvah. Rabbi Waldenberg sees the ability to help in the mitzvah of the war effort as an additional reason, among many.
Rabbi Zevin, in his 1957 revision of his 1946 L’Ohr HaHalachah, added a paragraph (p. 64 in the 2004 reprint) in which he asserted that the 1948 War of Independence was a milchemet mitzvah because it was both saving the Jews from an attacking enemy (Rambam) and conquering the Land of Israel (Ramban).
The Torah has been twisted into so many knots that it can't be straightened out.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget, they also announce that, al pi haRambam, they are Levi'im and therefore exempt from doing anything but learning all day.
There are plenty of valid points here too but for a za hot potato topic that gets emotional & even a question of pikuach nefesh for many people, Mishpacha Mag have to very careful what they write
ReplyDeletehttps://mishpacha.com/opening-the-books/
There is no validity given whatsoever to the critics of mosdos who indeed have corrupt admins dipping in the cookie jar to live it up or inept admins squandering money. Of course the Agudah / TU are in total denial (for multiple reasons). But the sad reality is that such a thing sometimes exists.
Rabbi Gutman of Vaad Hadayanim should not have made a blanket statement that the mosdos are private, non-public institutions. This only applies to parents who try to weasel out of tuition by improperly invoking takonas Ben Gamla. Otherwise, the blanket statement azoy flies in the face of all the gedolei haposkim who caution that yeshivos are public institutions where adminis-traitors can't just shut down enrollment whenever they selfishly feel like it. The gedolim have said so pointedly, which the worst offenders like Yeshiva of Spring Valley still obnoxiously insist that no they are private orgs who are not accountable to anyone. Rabbi Gutman should not be giving any ammunition to the azei ponim.
As Rav Shraga Feivel said almost 100 years ago, once a mossad takes public funds from the tzibbur, it is no longer a private institution.
ReplyDeleteCREATE A VAAD OF HONEST PEOPLE TO MONITOR AND AUDIT THE MOSDOS!
ReplyDeleteEVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF YOU REALLY HAVE THE GUTS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
Posted by Paul Mendlowitz at Tuesday, June 20, 2017