- Family and Society
- War Ethics
69
Question
Can I serve under a non-religious commander in the IDF? Does this bring up Halachic and moral issues? If you cannot accept witness testimony of someone who breaks Shabbat how can you serve under him?
Answer
Since the beginning of the IDF, PM David Ben-Gurion ordered that the Israeli army be run according to halacha, to enable the entire nation, including the religious, to serve together. To this day, no exercises nor target practice etc. but only life-threatening activities, are done on Shabbat, all food must be kosher, there must be a mezuza on every door, all soldiers are given ample time to pray on each respective day, and all orders must be in consonance with halacha. The only heartbreaking exception was the one-time order 16 years ago to uproot Jewish settlers from Gush Katif, which was tragic from many aspects, but even then, any soldier who didn't want to participate, was given the option to serve elsewhere. Who can or can't give testimony in Beit Din is dictated by the Torah, and accordingly is a unique issue with unique laws (e.g. even women can't testify), but one can surely obey and rely on a non-religious medical specialist, and similarly, a military specialist.
In addition, if soldiers don't follow orders, we obviously will not have an army, and the dangerous ramifications are obvious. The holiness of saving even one life supersedes the sanctity of Shabbat or one's fasting on Yom Kippur, so how much more so must we follow the orders of the army when legally they can never contradict any mitzvah, and they're out to save the entire nation of Israel. May God watch over them as they and He watch(es) over us.

David in Philistia - politics and religion
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Av 1, 5770

War and Urim VeTumim
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Iyyar 15, 5781

More on Pre-Emptive Strikes & Israel's Target-Killings
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Av 2, 5781

Policy To Shoot Captured Israeli Soldiers- Hannibal Command
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tishrei 24, 5782

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Keeping non-definite chametz and staying in a dorm
Nisan 3, 5771

Ayin hara and Rambam
Tevet 28, 5771

Delaying aliya for career and studies
Adar II 25, 5771

Fasting or giving Tzedaka on seeing Sefer Torah fallen
Shevat 7, 5771

Do non-Jews or non-Noahides go to heaven?
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Cheshvan 7, 5779

Jews murdering prophets
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tammuz 2, 5780

Wearing shoes and clothing of the deceased
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Tishrei 8, 5771

Standing up for certain sections
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 22, 5772

The nations & Sinai
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Sivan 20, 5785

Can HaShem use anyone to be His servants?
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Iyyar 29, 5785

Older Kohen marriage to a Divorced Jewess.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Sivan 15, 5785
