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arise to kill one who comes to kill? Jewish self-defense
Question
What is the source of the common quote, "If one comes to kill, arise and kill him first", or in general, the Jewish concept of self-defense?
Answer
The concept of “if one comes to kill you, arise and kill him first” (Shmot 22, 1, explained in Brachot 58b) is a most basic moral and Jewish concept, accepted universally by the western world who has adopted the Bible as our objective moral code of action.
The most basic and important ideal and mitzvah is to survive. Just like all mitzvot are pushed aside for the saving of the individual (e.g. desecrating Shabbat, eating on Yom Kippur, Rambam, Hil. Shabbat, ch. 2), how much more so are all other factors pushed aside for the self-defense of Am Yisrael, for “The dead cannot praise God” (Tehilim 115, 17), (nor do too much of anything…). This ideal is true regarding all nations, but how much more so regarding a nation designated and obligated to be a moral “light unto the nations” (Yishayau 42, 6), that it’s immoral for us to risk our survival at the moral expense of mankind. From Avraham’s going to war to save his kidnapped nephew from the 4 kings of the north (Breishit 14, 14), to Moshe’s sacrificing his future in Egypt to save his Jewish brother beaten by the Egyptian (Shmot 2, 12), throughout all of sefer Shoftim, Shmuel I and II and M’lachim I and II, down to Megilat Esther, we see that the Book Of Books holds self-defense as the highest of priorities and one of the predominant themes of the Tanach, even one of the central attributes of just about all of the biblical heroes, who were willing to sacrifice their lives for Am Yisrael!

Forgiveness and the Holocaust
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Iyyar 12, 5771

Prayer
Rabbi Jonathan Blass | 27 Tevet 5764

Moredet Marriage Law
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Kislev 4, 5783

Employer stealing from / cheating customers
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 18, 5783

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.

Orla
Shevat 19, 5771

Gentile Prophets
Adar II 25, 5771

Goyim at Shul/hashkafah of Shul
Adar II 1, 5771

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

Tachanun
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 26, 5780
Meaning of the name "Yaakov"
Rabbi Berel Wein | 2 Kislev 5763
Meaning of the name "Yaakov"
Rabbi Berel Wein | 2 Kislev 5763

Mezzuzah for Non Jew
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 18, 5773

Writing in a Siddur
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Tevet 19, 5783

Thank you
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 17, 5783

Talmud
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Shevat 4, 5783
