Rabbi’s Shmooze

I was interviewed by Fox43 yesterday about the current situation in Israel. They wanted a rabbinic perspective.

They asked me questions like…

Q. “In your opinion, should Israel continue this war?”

Q. “Do you feel that Hezbollah started the war?”

Q. “What do you think the solution to the crisis in the Middle East is?”

In my opinion, Israel is doing what it needs to do to protect its citizens. The blame for the “Israeli caused” deaths and injuries of innocent civilians in Lebanon fall squarely on the Hezbollah for hiding behind them while launching their rockets.

It’s easy to say “Israel is right, they are wrong, they started, Israel will destroy them, and they had it coming.”

But does the Torah have anything more to say?

Of course - one is allowed to kill in self defense. One is even allowed to preemptively strike.

But is that all there is to a “rabbinic perspective”?

While war is sometimes necessary, it is never ideal. We do not live to go to war, and we do not like going to war. All man is created in G-d’s image. It is always a tragedy when innocent people suffer, no matter what side of the border they live on.

We pray as we go to war that we harm only criminals, and we cry when unwanted, unintended losses are occurred.

And we look forward to the time when the world will know only peace.

Good Shabbos! – Rabbi Elazar Green