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Shabbat Balak: What the Torah Teaches Us About Waging a Moral War
A Torah scroll. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
In our current section of the Torah, as the tribe of Israel makes its way towards the Promised Land, they encounter three very different situations that cast light on the attitude towards war and its conventions. The rules that applied 3,000 ago regarding the Canaanites no longer apply today — and it would be ridiculous to compare their standards to ours today.
Many of the conventions and rules we take for granted are recent — and states and groups still excel in the sort of barbarism even the ancients avoided (Hamas is case in point). Nevertheless, there are lessons we can learn.
Moses sent messengers to Edom, the descendants of Esav, asking for safe passage through their land (Numbers 21:21-22). He was expecting a positive response given the family connection, but Edom refused and sent a large army to block them. Israel decided not to fight and was forced to detour. The Canaanites saw this as a sign of weakness — so they attacked and took captives.
This time, Israel responded with force and destroyed their cities. Yet despite the victory, there was rebellion in the Israelite camp. Internal politics was a problem even then, as both sides argued about tactics.
When Israel requested passage from Sichon, King of the Amorites, a similar approach was taken. However, when Sichon came out to fight, the Israelites were commanded to destroy him completely, as was later done with Og, King of Bashan. Finally, they meet the Midianites, who present a much more serious existential challenge.
The Book of Devarim expands on this narrative to include Moav and the Ammonites descendants of Lot. One sees a reluctance to fight them as well as Edom, because they were both descendants of Abraham’s family. One wonders if Palestinians today ought to count as family.
In the 40th year of their journey, the Israelites sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying: “Let me pass through your country.” “Then I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to King Sichon of Heshbon with an offer of peace (Deuteronomy 2:26).”
Moses’ offer of peace to the Amorites seems to contradict an earlier direct Divine command. God told Moses, “See, I give into your power Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin the occupation; and engage him in battle (Devarim 2:24).” The purpose of having the Israelites convincingly defeat the Amorites was as a deterrent.
“This day I begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples everywhere under Heaven (Devarim 2:25).” Victory against the mighty and renowned Sihon would elevate the Israelites’ martial reputation in advance of their expected war with the Canaanite nations that they had been told by God to dispossess.
God’s instruction for the Israelites to wage an aggressive and unprovoked war against the Amorites stands in contrasts with avoiding provoking the Edomites ( Devarim 2:5) and refraining from harassing the Moabites (Ibid 2:9) and Ammonites (Ibid 2:19).
Approval of Moses’ actions is implicit in the Torah’s subsequent legislation about warfare. “When you approach a town to attack it, you shall offer it terms of peace (Ibid 20:10).” Later Joshua followed the precedent set by Moses and extended an offer of peace to the nations living in the Land of Canaan. Joshua gave them the choice to leave voluntarily, make peace, become a tributary, or wage war. The Girgashites evacuated to Africa, the Gibeonites made peace, and the 31 other Canaanite potentates waged war and lost (Yerushalmi Shevi’it 36c).
Throughout Jewish history, some authorities have favored pacifism, from secular Brit Shalom in Mandate Palestine to Satmar Rebbe Joel Teitelbaum. And one can find passages from rabbinic literature of those who wish to steer Jewry away from militarism.
And yet, sometimes war is a necessity for survival. These examples of different strategies and reasons for war, illustrate the complexity of warfare and the danger of seeing them all as equally bad.
World Jewry and the modern State of Israel follow Moses’ example. We have our emissaries who talk to the adversary, who seek to avoid conflict or resolve it. But when talks fail, the armed forces stand ready to achieve victory. But if we are forced into war, we regret the loss of all lives and we are commanded to preserve our sense of humanity and mercy whenever we can.
The author is a writer and rabbi, based in New York.
The post Shabbat Balak: What the Torah Teaches Us About Waging a Moral War 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.