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Conscription or Not, All Israelis Should Find a Way to Serve the Nation

The Western Wall and Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Among the many topics in this week’s Torah reading is the seemingly incidental one of the two silver trumpets. Trumpets and horns were always important ways of communicating to wider audiences, groups, and armies. But here the Torah adds two important dimensions — warfare, and who is obliged to fight.

Have two silver trumpets made; make them out of beaten material. They should summon the community and prepare them for moving on … and when you are at war in your land against an aggressor you should sound the trumpets so that God will remember you and save you from your enemies.

Notice that praying to God for support is not a substitute for going to war.

The more detailed laws of warfare and who is obliged to fight are found in Deuteronomy (Chapter 20:1-20). It also gives a detailed list of who is exempt from service. The Torah implies but does not state that there are two kinds of war — a Milchemet Mitzvah (an obligatory war) and a Milchemet Reshut (an optional war). The Torah commands war against Amalek and Canaan, although in practice this was never carried out. I will admit that even in theory it sounds awful to modern ears. But let’s not forget its context, over 3,000 years ago when the whole world was cruel and violent.

The Mishnah, after listing all those exempt from serving, says:

These statements, with regard to the various exemptions from war, are said with regard to optional wars. But in wars that are a mitzvah, (or according to Rabbi Yehuda, an obligation) everyone goes, even a groom from his room and a bride from her wedding canopy. (Mishnah Sotah 8:2-6 and 8:7).

The Talmud too insists that Jews must go to war to “defend themselves from their enemies” (Sotah 44b).

Historically over the centuries Jews have gone to war almost always in self-defense. But even then, rabbis argued about what was and was not justified.

As always, the medieval authorities clarify:

What is considered a Milchemet Mitzvah? The war against the seven nations who occupied Eretz Yisrael, the war against Amalek, and a war fought to assist Israel from an enemy which attacks them. There is no need to seek the permission of the court to wage a Milchemet Mitzvah. Rather, he may force the nation to go out with him. In contrast, he may not lead the nation out to wage a Milchemet Hareshut unless the court of seventy-one judges approves (Maimonides  Laws of Kings Chapter 5 ). [emphasis added]

Over time, different authorities have added clarifications and exceptions. Some argued we must wait for the Messiah, that women, scholars, and priests do not have to fight. But even they had obligations to help in non-combative roles. Great nationalist rabbis have always supported the army and encouraged enlisting. Indeed, today the Religious Nationalist presence in the army is distinguishing itself both in success and sadly in casualties.

Given the dominant Haredi opposition to conscription, there is justified anger and resentment in Israel, that a major growing sector refuses to fight and still expects everyone else to support them. I have not heard of any authority who argues against self-defense, but there are voices against identifying with secular values and argue that post-Holocaust, we have an obligation to focus on expanding Torah and Jewish religious life in answer to our enemies and assimilation.

Yet we must not forget that the Haredi world too is divided within itself and can no more be regarded as monolithic than can Judaism altogether. I should point out that although most Haredi Jews may not identify with secularism, the number who support the Neturei Karta traitors is minuscule. Most authorities have banned them. Meanwhile more and more Haredi men are volunteering to serve, as the army makes an effort to accommodate their lifestyles. But still, given the present crisis, not nearly enough.

While one might make an exception for genuine scholars, many Haredi young men are not scholars and suffer being forced into an intellectual environment they are not suited for. Israel is so torn between conflicting ideologies, secular and religious — and from a religious point of view, it all depends on which rabbi you consult or are loyal to.

The great Chazon Ish (Rav Karelitz, 1878-1953) negotiated the initial deal with David Ben-Gurion to allow scholars to be excused — but the number was much smaller then.

In the same way that religious women always had the option of National Service, I see no reason why Haredi men who are not fit or able, should not serve the community in other ways, as many have this year. Once again, the leadership has failed. The Torah we read this week expects the people to come together in an emergency and to fight for their survival. That surely applies as much today as it ever did in the past.

The author is a writer and rabbi, currently based in New York.

The post Conscription or Not, All Israelis Should Find a Way to Serve the Nation first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War

Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.

Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.

“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”

GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’

Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.

“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.

“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.

“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.

After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”

RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL

Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”

Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.

“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.

She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”

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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests

A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco

Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.

People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.

“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”

Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.

On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.

Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.

On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.

“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.

Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.

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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan

Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas

Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.

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