Why? Part I

This is the first installment in a series of explanations of why I am joining the army.

When I tell Israelis that I'm going to the army, I usually get one of two reactions. The first usually goes something like "kol hakavod". The second reaction is usually "Really? Why?". It has happened to me a few times where sabras, usually older, start ranting about how much they are fed up with Israel and then tell me never to live here and to stay where it is peaceful. They just don't understand why a kid my age would want to get involved in defending a country that I technically do not belong to. What they apparently don't understand is that this land was given to every single Jew, no matter where they are living now. Therefore, I feel an obligation to protect it, the Jews living in it, and the Jews who still haven't realized that they need to be living in it. Because it isn't just a land. If it had just been about a place to put the Jews, Uganda could have worked. But Israel is the only place where Jews belong because Hashem chose His favorite piece of land for us. It is also the only place in the the world where we can live properly as Jews under our own rule without the fear of persecution.

So since my land is more or less constantly in a state of war, I feel the need to do my part and protect it. An American kid in yeshiva once said to me while we were discussing the army, "But why should I join, they don't need more soldiers, there's no war now". But what he naively doesn't realize is that a soldier is not made overnight, there are months and months of training until he is ready to fight in a war. Who knows what will happen in a year from now. Plus, most of the army is made up of miluim soldiers, and by not going to the army and say, making Aliyah later in life, they would not be able to be called up if the need arises.

Others claim that if all Jews would sit down and learn, Hashem would protect us and the army would be unnecessary. I couldn't believe that people actually think that is true today. First of all, we have to show effort in order for Hashem to help us. Yes, I truly believe that learning Torah will and does help protect us, but Gemaras do not stop bullets (maybe masechet shabbat in oz v'hadar does). Second, it is impossible to get all Jews to learn right now. Many Jews don't even know they are Jewish. If it was possible, maybe it would would be more of a claim. Third, even in the times of David HaMelech and the like, Hashem didn't magically erase their enemies. The people went out with swords and shields and physically fought their foes. Yes, Hashem told them when they would win and performed miracles so that would happen, but miracles happen every day here in Israel too.

In fact, passion for the army and the general advance of Israel for the first few decades after the establishment can be found in the hearts of secular Zionists. Lately, the religious Zionists have replaced them and now make up a large portion of the commanders and special forces as well as being the best regular soldiers. It is the religious that feel responsible to put their lives on the line nowadays, which includes me.

Simply put: I am Jewish. Therefore, Israel is my country. Hence, it is my job to protect it.

That was the moral side of my reason. Next, I'll explain why I think there might be a halachic reason to join the army.


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