Heroes of Holiness

In the Dvar Torah I sent two years ago in commemoration of Memorial Day for our fallen soldiers, I demonstrated that the approach of the Israel Defense Force (I.D.F.) is an application of the traditional approach of the heroes of the Bible. This year, I present some of Rabbi Kook’s enlightening insights in this matter, based upon his “Orot - Milḥama” [Chapter 2) and the English translation and commentary of Rabbi David Samson and Tzvi Fishman [War and Peace].

The underlying principle of Rabbi Kook’s approach is that Israel’s wars are God’s wars and its army is the army of God on earth. “Their war of survival, the survival of the nation, was a battle of God.”

Rabbi Kook focuses our attention on the fact that the Biblical heroes, who fought the wars of God and His nation, are not merely military heroes, but also, and primarily, “heroes of holiness.” “The men of these times are the same great figures whom we cherish for their holy stature.” Our Father Abraham, who had the courage to stand against the rest of the world in his belief in a single omnipotent God, did not hesitate to pursue the army which had just won the “First World War” in order to rescue his nephew, who had been taken captive. Moses, the greatest spiritual figure in history, who brought Torah down to us from Mount Sinai and taught it to us, fought Israel’s wars against the kings of eastern Eretz Yisrael, himself killing Sichon, King of the Amorites and Og, king of the Bashan. [Based upon Bemidbar Rabba 101] Joshua, who “Did not depart from the tent” of Moses and of Torah [Exodus 33:11] led the Israelites’ battle against Amalek as well as their battles to capture the Promised Land. King David, the “sweet singer of Israel” [II Samuel 23:1], was one of the greatest generals in Israel’s history, and through his wars established the largest empire ever ruled by a Jewish monarch.

When we yearn for the heroes of our past, learn from them and attempt to emulate them, their holy valor becomes a part of our lives, and our identification with them, gives us the power to realize our own inner potential:

When we reflect on them, we are, in all of the spiritual revelation which we are so eagerly yearning for, longing to emulate their bravery, their fully formed and sculptured life force, so solid and strong inside them; from this great yearning our spiritual power is charged, and our valor is refined.

And beyond this, “those same powerful souls return to our midst as in the days of old.” That is, by adopting the ways of our ancient heroes, the I.D.F.’s soldiers have the power to resurrect them within our midst!

The necessity to deal with war presents a difficult challenge. By its nature, war requires killing and includes acts of cruelty. Therefore a Jewish soldier must have strength and courage and in two realms: strength for the physical battle, and strength to battle the ugly emotions and passions which are incited by war. Our Biblical heroes succeeded in this challenge, “They were bold in spirit, and they knew in the depths of darkness to choose good and deviate from evil.” (Emphasis mine) “Their holiness, even in battle, is what makes them legendary heroes to all of the world.” These twin strengths must be the aspiration of our soldiers. There is no doubt that the I.D.F. is the most moral army in the world.

            Maimonides sets a very high standard for the Jewish soldier:

Once a soldier enters battle, he should rely on the Hope of Israel and their Savior. He should know that he is fighting for the sake of the unity of God’s name, and he should place his soul in his hand and not show fear or fright. He should not worry about his wife or children, but erase their memory from his heart, removing all thoughts from his mind except for the war. Laws of Kings 7:15

The ability to focus on the war with no thoughts of family intruding arises from faith in “the Hope of Israel and their Savior,” the belief that God fights on behalf of His nation. Faith in God has an additional effect during times of war, in protecting soldiers from the negative effects of war.

Indeed, such faith is one of the lessons we must learn from our ancient heroes.

An example of this faith is the courage of David, the shepherd, who apparently was a teenager, to battle the Philistine giant, Goliath, as David himself said:

David said to the Philistine: “You come against me with your sword, javelin and spear; but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Host, the God of Israel’s army, Whom you have taunted.” I Samuel 17:45

            May it be God’s will to “make the enemies who rise against us be struck down before the soldiers of the I.D.F., and our enemies subdued under them and crown them with deliverance and victory.” [Based upon the Prayer for the I.D.F.]