Page 30 - HaMizrachi #29 Yom HaAtzmaut 2021 USA

HOLIDAY READING ISRAEL AS A JEWISH STATE

Rabbi Yuval Cherlow

Israel and Arms Export

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

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