Milkhemet Mitzvah
Encyclopedia
Milḥemet Mitzvah or in Biblical Hebrew Milḥemeth Miṣwah (Hebrew: מלחמת מצווה, "War by commandment
") is the term for a war
during the times of the Tanakh
when a king (of the Kingdom of Israel) would go to war in order to fulfill something based on, and required by, the Torah
without needing approval from a Sanhedrin
, such as war against Amalek
.
In contrast, a milkhemet reshut (לחמת רשות, "authorized war") is a discretionary war, which according to Jewish law
requires the permission of a Sanhedrin
.
Unlike milkhemet reshut wars, which tended to be fought to expand territory or for economic reasons and had exemption clauses, milhemet mitzvah tended to be invoked in defensive war
s, when vital interests were at risk.
. The milchemet reshut has not been applied or used since then; because the Jewish people have neither a king nor universally recognized Sanhedrin, there is no religious authority to authorize a milchemet reshut.
Questions about the halakhic
justification for war again arise in modern times in connection to military operations of, and service in, the Israel Defense Forces
. To the extent that such operations are perceived to be self-defense, they are viewed as examples of milchemet mitzvah.
.
Mitzvah
The primary meaning of the Hebrew word refers to precepts and commandments as commanded by God...
") is the term for a war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
during the times of the Tanakh
Tanakh
The Tanakh is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible. The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra. The name is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim —hence...
when a king (of the Kingdom of Israel) would go to war in order to fulfill something based on, and required by, the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
without needing approval from a Sanhedrin
Sanhedrin
The Sanhedrin was an assembly of twenty-three judges appointed in every city in the Biblical Land of Israel.The Great Sanhedrin was the supreme court of ancient Israel made of 71 members...
, such as war against Amalek
Amalek
The Amalekites are a people mentioned a number of times in the Hebrew Bible. They are considered to be descended from an ancestor Amalek....
.
In contrast, a milkhemet reshut (לחמת רשות, "authorized war") is a discretionary war, which according to Jewish law
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
requires the permission of a Sanhedrin
Sanhedrin
The Sanhedrin was an assembly of twenty-three judges appointed in every city in the Biblical Land of Israel.The Great Sanhedrin was the supreme court of ancient Israel made of 71 members...
.
Unlike milkhemet reshut wars, which tended to be fought to expand territory or for economic reasons and had exemption clauses, milhemet mitzvah tended to be invoked in defensive war
Defensive war
A defensive war is one of the causes that justify war by the criteria of the Just War tradition. It means a war where at least one nation is mainly trying to defend itself from another, as opposed to a war where both sides are trying to invade and conquer each other.-Examples:* The Darius'...
s, when vital interests were at risk.
Applicability in modern times
The notions, terms and functions of milkhemet mitzvah and milkhemet reshut were classically utilized in the times of the Kingdoms of Israel and JudahKingdom of Judah
The Kingdom of Judah was a Jewish state established in the Southern Levant during the Iron Age. It is often referred to as the "Southern Kingdom" to distinguish it from the northern Kingdom of Israel....
. The milchemet reshut has not been applied or used since then; because the Jewish people have neither a king nor universally recognized Sanhedrin, there is no religious authority to authorize a milchemet reshut.
Questions about the halakhic
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
justification for war again arise in modern times in connection to military operations of, and service in, the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
. To the extent that such operations are perceived to be self-defense, they are viewed as examples of milchemet mitzvah.
External links
"Milhemet Mitzva and Milhemet Reshut", Shlomo GorenShlomo Goren
Shlomo Goren , was an Orthodox Religious Zionist rabbi in Israel who founded and served as the first head of the Military Rabbinate of the Israel Defense Forces and subsequently as the third Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel from 1973 to 1983.He served in the Israel Defense Forces during three wars,...
.