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HOLIDAY READING ISRAEL AS A JEWISH STATE

Rabbi Yuval Cherlow

Israel and Arms Export

ne of Religious Zionism’s obligate the Jewish State to limit itself in and because dealers are usually former
deepest messages is that when this area? Doesn’t the duty to “do what senior officers close to government
Owe deal with the Jewish char- is good and right in the eyes of G-d” bodies, these deals are often associated
acter of the State of Israel, we do not also apply to the export of weapons? with bribery, corruption and the like.
focus solely on matters of bein adam To begin with, Jewish law states that it When the State of Israel participates
laMakom. Of course, government is actually forbidden to sell weapons to in this type of arms deal, it harms its
laws regarding Shabbat, marriage and non-Jews: “And furthermore, it is taught Jewish character and desecrates Hash-
divorce, kashrut and conversion are sta- in a baraita: One may not sell weapons em’s Name.
ples in the character of a Jewish State. or auxiliary equipment to non-Jews,
But Torah attention must also be given and one may not sharpen weapons for Yom HaAtzmaut is a kind of Rosh
to the ways in which the country itself them. And one may not sell them stocks Hashanah for the State of Israel. This
is conducted, such as determining used for fastening the feet of prisoners, is the right time for introspection; to
socio-economic policy, leading the fight or iron neck chains (kolarin), or foot rejoice in the innumerable good things
against corruption, etc. chains, or iron chains. This prohibition this country does, but also – as on Rosh
applies equally to both a non-Jew and
One of the ethical issues at the center of a Samaritan” (Masechet Avodah Zarah Hashanah – to repent and correct what
how a Jewish State should be run is the 15b). needs to be corrected. Those who follow
question of the arms industry. Jewish the path of Torah must participate in
ָ
ethics states that םי ִ מ ְ דֹוק ךיֶּי ַ ח – your own However, the poskim allowed the export the call for the State of Israel to pursue
life takes priority over the life of anyone of weapons for various reasons: 1) a policy of arms exports according to
else. Therefore, the basis for ethical national pikuach nefesh 2) on condition Halacha, within the proper moral and
behavior is for one to first take care of the sale is to countries that maintain law ethical constraints, thereby sowing our
oneself. In national terms, in order to and order, and uphold the international deep faith in the vision for the End of
defend itself, the State of Israel must principles of combat morality, and other Days, when “nation shall not take up
maintain a developed and advanced reasons. These heterim are essential and sword against nation; they shall never
arms industry, until the days of Mashi- in keeping with Halacha and the foun- know war again.”
ach, when “the wolf shall dwell with the dations of Jewish law. However, there
lamb, the leopard shall lie down with is no heter to sell weapons to countries
the kid.” In the modern world though, or private entities that violate human
to sustain an arms industry demands rights, or use the weapons they buy to
arms export – to maintain an economic commit war crimes and genocide. Rabbi Yuval Cherlow is a Rosh Yeshiva
base for the industry, to examine the and a founding member of an organization
effectiveness of weapons, for diplomatic Moreover, the arms export environment devoted to bridging the religious-secular
purposes, etc. is always accompanied by moral decay. divide in Israel.
Because these transactions are often
Does this mean that everything is done “in the dark,” because tremen- A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
allowed though? Does Halacha not dous amounts of money are involved, mizrachi.org/speakers

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