Listen in to This Week's Jewish Hour Menachem Schmidt - chabad on Campus

Going to War



This week we read the Parsha of Shoftim, Deuteronomy 16:18 - 21:10. The rules of going to war state, that one who is afraid is exempt from serving in the army. Rashi, the classic Biblical commentator, writes that the potential soldier is afraid that sins committed will cause him not to be protected at a time of danger. Who would not be afraid? The Talmud states even one who speaks during the time of prayers is considered sinful?

Parshas Shoftim is always read during the month of Elul. There are no holidays in Elul as we are afforded an entire month to prepare for Rosh Hashana. One of the preparations is Teshuva - return to the proper path. Once a person has corrected their misdeeds. not only are those deeds no longer a hindrance, but they can actually propel a person to a greater closeness to G'd (distance facilitates relationship). The Talmud writes that soldiers need merit to protect them in battle and qualifies that even the reciting of the Shma - a Jew's declaration of dedication to Hashem should suffice. The soldier should have no fear once he has made that declaration.

Rashi comments that the war discussed in the Parsha is Milchamas Reshus - a war of expansion. The Torah says that there will come a time when Israel will become too small and annexation will be necessary - as in King David's time. There are two other types of war; the conquest and the defense of the land. There are no exemptions from these wars. All three wars can be understood on a personal level as well.

There is a war that we wage to conquer the world. This requires the performance of all the positive precepts (the thou shalt's). The war of defending the world against the dark forces is perpetrated through adherence to the negative commandments (the thou shall not's). Everyone is required to participate in these wars - there are no exemptions. The third type of war involves reshus - permissible things. No one is required to participate in utilizing any kosher substance in order to serve Hashem and make the world a better place. The Torah allows them to live a hermitic life divorced from the coarse externalities of the world if they are afraid of adverse effects by being in the world. The Talmud states that if a person merely recites the Shma - declares his dedication to Hashem (he has to remember that dedication, too) then there will be no ill effects by this milchamas hareshus.

Learning from a Thief

Reb Zusha of Annapoli, contemporary of the Alter Rebbe, said, “I have learned seven things from a thief:

What he does, he keeps to himself.

He is willing to take risks to achieve his goal.

He does not distinguish between major and minor things, but takes equally exacting care of each and every detail.

He invests great effort in what he does.

He is quick.

He is always optimistic, fervently praying to the Almighty for success in his endeavors.

If he is not successful, he tries again.

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