The Rebbe’s View On Shleimus Ha’aretz
Watch: In a clear way, Rabbi Yosef Katzman of Crown Heights explains the Rebbe’s view on Shleimus Ha’aretz at a Shiur at Beinoni Shtiebel in Crown Heights. Video
Watch: In a clear way, Rabbi Yosef Katzman of Crown Heights explains the Rebbe’s view on Shleimus Ha’aretz at a Shiur at Beinoni Shtiebel in Crown Heights. Video
Yes but the problem is that too many “professional” military people do not operate with professional considerations. The Rebbe knew how to discern the differences because he was deeply aware of all aspects. In the absence of such an awareness, faith is our strongest weapon. Without it, we do not know what we are fighting for.
I believe the Rebbe expressed opposition to the Camp David withdrawals in private, and later publicly in his sichos.
First of all, before the signing of the Camp David Accords, at the Farbrengens, the Rebbe was FIERCELY opposed to giving back land. He knew better then the Gedolim that this will not bring peace. But the accords were done, and the land given back. A couple of decades later, even Gaza was relinquished. Okay, so lets look at the numbers (see: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/israeli-casualties-in-battle-1860-present). It seems that since 1967, the casualties we had while we had the land, compared to when we gave it back – less casualties after the land was abandoned. This is why many Israelis used to say… Read more »
Just to add one more comment. The Rebbe repeatedly criticized specific military policies of the IDF. Not just the Bar Lev line, which is mentioned here, but also the decision not to go onward to Cairo and Damascus in 1973. He did not take the word of the “professionals” as though it was beyond debate. But he had unusual knowledge and insight that most of us do not possess.
Wasn’t a primary reason for not going to Cairo and Damascus because the Russians threatened nuclear war if they did?
A Kal v’Chomer: If an Am Chesed would use nuclear weapons (2 atom bombs on Japan), killing about 120,000 instantly, then can we just dismiss the Russian threat as a mere bluff?
Yes it was a bluff. And the decision was made by cowardly politicians.
The Rebbe criticized the decisions made by the politicians about military matters, not the ones made by the military which were always overruled by the politicians. The Bar-Lev line and the decision not to go to Damascus and Cairo were made by politicians not by the military. Case in point, Sharon crossing the Suez during the YK war against the decision of the government via the chief of staff. This was technically treason, but it saved Israel. But they couldn’t court-martial him, it would create chaos and a revolution from the masses. To read what the Rebbe says in his… Read more »
Thank you. In recent decades, Israel has not had the type of military leaders it had in the founding generation. I have confidence in the current Chief of Staff, but there have been a succession of horrible ones over the past 30 years, including one (Shaul Mofaz) who said the other day that he is proud of the Disengagement of the communities in Gush Katif that preceded the takeover of Gaza by Hamas, and that he would happily release all 11,000 terrorists held in Israeli prisons for the hostages that the terrorists captured. It is not always wise to assume… Read more »
Just to clarify what the Rebbe states very clearly. The Rebbe is unequivocally clear, that we listen only to the experts in whatever field, doctors, military men, etc. on the condition that they speak based on their field of expertise alone, without any outside considerations. The Rebbe uses an example when a doctor says not to treat a patient on Yom Kippur, and he says that because he will then desecrate Yom Kippur, this is not a medical opinion. He must say what is necessary to save the patient life medically alone. And this becomes Halacha how to deal with… Read more »