We all hate war.
(Well let’s qualify that. There are some people who for one reason or another historically, as well as today, are predisposed to aggression, violence and upheaval. But civil people generally despise war and everything it stands for. Healthy people inherently want a calm and peaceful existence.)
So why would any decent person go to war? Why would a moral country deploy their citizens to fight? Why would anyone put themselves in harm’s way? Who in their right mind would want to shed blood and create all the havoc and destruction that comes with war?
The only reason is because you have no choice. It is a last resort. If you are attacked, if your family is in danger, you are responsible to defend and protect yourself and your loved ones. It’s called: self defense.
But then what does war achieve? Is it just to eliminate the threat, the enemy? It’s more than that. When your sworn enemy has called for your unconditional destruction, and unwaveringly demonstrated that in action — they have in effect left you with no other choice — then war becomes not only a necessary way to protect yourself, but the only means to achieve true peace and harmony. Because as long as you don’t vanquish your enemy, you will forever be at war. It may be dragged out and appear at times to be peaceful, but inevitably it is a war. It’s just like an infection in the body – if you don’t deal with it and eradicate it, it’ll continue to fester and grow until it ultimately kills you.
As Israel continues to wage war with its sworn enemies, all ethical people are compelled to ask themselves: yes, we were forced to go to war. But to what end? Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson in this critical discussion to establish the moral imperative of this war. Discover how war cannot be justified as an end in itself; we cannot be satisfied with fighting just to defend ourselves. War is legitimate solely when it is the only way to peace. At times we can achieve peace through peaceful means; but at times the only way to achieve peace is sadly through war.
Raises the question of what is a paradox? The concept of a paradox is from Greek mythology. Is there a kabbalahistic comparison to this concept or an adaptation of it?