OHR SOMAYACH'S ASK THE RABBI
Issue #290 November 4, 2000 / 6 Cheshvan 5761
Parshat Noach
=====================================
In this issue:
IN DEFENSE OF ISRAEL
HEAVENLY HUMOR
THE BIGGER THEY ARE...
PUBLIC DOMAIN
=====================================

IN DEFENSE OF ISRAEL

From:  Joel Davidson in New Jersey
<joeld143@hotmail.com>

  Dear Rabbi,
  One is allowed to harm or even kill an attacker in self-defense if
  necessary.  However, isn't it also true that under no circumstances
  may one harm an innocent to protect himself (for example, if a man
  has a gun to your head and tells you to kill an innocent by-stander,
  you must allow yourself to be killed rather than kill the innocent)?
  This being the case, it seems problematic to engage in bombing raids
  and other military means, no matter how justified by self-defense,
  when there is a significant chance of harming innocents.  I am
  referring to bombings where civilians may be harmed when the IDF
  goes after Hizbollah or other terrorists.  I would appreciate any
  insight you could offer.  Shalom.

Dear Joel,
Unfortunately, there are groups and nations who base their fighters
and military equipment in civilian areas.  This deters attacks from
their enemies, and allows them to gain world-wide sympathy if a
civilian does get hurt, especially a woman or child.

We see this today.  Before West Bank Arabs shoot their automatic
weapons at us, they send children and teenagers up ahead to stone us
and to throw fire-bombs.  The sympathy they gain if a child dies is
worth more to them than the life of the child.

Similarly, the Arabs are using civilian homes as bases to fire their
rifles at us.  As of this writing, this is being done to attack places
like Psagot and Jerusalem's Gilo neighborhood.

Israeli policy has always been to warn civilians prior to a strike.
If Israel shells terrorists hiding in a residential area, warnings are
delivered first by loud speaker, leaflets, radio, and by alerting the
town authorities and giving them time to warn the residents so the
residents may evacuate.

If there are civilians who, after the warning, choose to stay, then
they knowing become obstacles to our ability, and our right, to defend
ourselves.  In that sense they can be considered accomplices.

A parting thought:  One of my teachers in Yeshiva told me that,
although Golda Meir may not have been a particularly religious lady,
she said one thing which rings particularly true of Torah ideology:
She said:  "We may be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our
children; but we can not forgive them for making us kill their
children."

=====================================

HEAVENLY HUMOR

From:  Coby's Daddy in Jerusalem
<Email@Withheld>

  Dear Rabbi,
  This question is from my 4-year old son, Coby, from the Old City of
  Jerusalem:  "What makes G-d laugh?"

Dear Coby's Daddy,
Your four year old son is asking a very deep question!  And, of
course, the answer to him is that G-d laughs at stuff that's really
funny.

As the old Yiddish rhyme goes:  "Ah mentch tracht, und Gut lacht."
This means, "Man plans, and G-d laughs."

More than just a stitch of folk wisdom, this idea is well-based in
classical sources.  "The One who dwells in the Heavens laughs," wrote
David, King of Israel, regarding the Divine take on those who try to
wipe out the Jewish People (Psalms 2).  "G-d snickers at them"
(Ibid.).

The futility of anti-Semitic plans to wipe us out is -- ultimately -- 
funny.  People make plans, but G-d "laughs" when He knows that these
plans will never materialize.

Now, G-d's essence is beyond comprehension.  We, the created, can't
understand the Creator.  Still, the Torah talks about G-d in ways we
can relate to, such as "G-d's Hand," "G-d's mouth," even though G-d
doesn't have a hand or mouth in the physical sense.  So too, G-d does
not laugh as we know it.

But you can't invent something if you don't know what it does.  To
invent the light bulb and gramophone, Thomas Edison needed to know
what sight and sound were.  Therefore, G-d, who created everything
including our capacity for humor, certainly "knows" a good joke when
He hears one.

=====================================

THE PUBLIC DOMAIN
Comments, quibbles, and reactions
concerning previous "Ask-the-Rabbi" features

Re:  G-D IS MY DENTIST (http://www.ohr.edu/ask/ask289.htm#Q2):

I must tell you that I was immensely touched by your answer to
"Name@Withheld in Brooklyn" concerning his question about all G-d's
actions being for the good.  The response you gave using the example
of a child going to a dentist was inspirational and illuminating.  I
want to thank you for your dedication and for sharing your knowledge
with us.  I pray that G-d keeps you safe and out of harm's way.
                             Nosson Campos
                             <LN281@aol.com>

Re:  JUSTICE

I am a professor of criminal justice at a state university in
Missouri.  I have been a detective and have taught criminal
investigation for a number of years.  I was very impressed with the
response that was given in the "Ask the Rabbi", issue #170
(http://www.ohr.edu/ask/ask170.htm#Q1), December 1997.  This concerned
the detective who was worried about using interrogation techniques
that involved building up the trust of a suspect in order to get a
confession.  The response mirrors what I have been teaching students
for the last 20 years.  I had never thought about examining these
techniques from a Scriptural context.  Excellent work.
                             Roger L. Pennel, Ph.D.
                             Professor, Department of Criminal Justice
                             Central Missouri State University,
                             Warrensburg, MO
                             <rpennel@cmsu1.cmsu.edu>

=====================================
Our scholars answer over 100 queries every day.
For donations click on:
https://www.virtual.co.il/secure/ohrsomayach/donate/donate.htm
or write to us at info@ohr.org.il
=====================================
If you like this e-mail, share it with a friend.
=====================================
Submit your questions to "ASK THE RABBI" at:
http://www.asktherabbi.org
Or E-Mail: info@ohr.org.il
=====================================
EVERY question EVER published in ASK THE RABBI
is available on-line in an easy-to-use index!
http://www.ohr.org.il/web/index/askidx.htm
=====================================
Ohr Somayach's other e-mail publications:
Ohrnet, Torah Weekly, Parsha Q&A, Ask the Rabbi,
The Weekly Daf, Seasons of the Moon,
OS-Special, Torah and Nature, Judaismo,
Judaismo-p, Light Lines, Ohrnews, Simcha, OS-Alum.
To subscribe, write to info@ohr.org.il
=====================================
If you want to unsubscribe from this list, send an e-mail to:
unsubscribe-Ask@lists.virtualjerusalem.com (no subject, no body)
=====================================
Dedication opportunities available for ASK THE RABBI!
Please contact us for details.
=====================================
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Michael Treblow
=====================================
ASK THE RABBI is written at
Ohr Somayach Institutions / Tanenbaum College
22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103
Jerusalem 91180, Israel
Tel: 972-2-581-0315 Fax: 972-2-581-2890
E-Mail:  info@ohr.org.il   Home Page:  http://www.ohrnet.org
=====================================
(C) 2000 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved.

