Is There a Mitzvah to Serve in the Israeli Army?

Three distinct mitzvot fulfilled by service, and why the Holocaust changed what a desecration of G-d’s Name looks like.

Q. Is there a mitzvah to serve in the Israeli army?

In a nutshell, all of the spiritual heroes of the Tanach not only served, but were military heroes. Although for 2,000 years of exile, Jews got used to avoiding the foreign army draft at any cost, today we have returned to our Jewish Land, State and Army, so we once again are privileged to be able to be ideal Jews, “a healthy soul in a healthy body”, just like our forefathers. Halachically, there are 3 major mitzvot you fulfill by fighting for Israel: 1. “Don’t stand by your brother’s blood” (Vayikra 19, 16, Rambam, M’lachim 5, 1)- to patrol and defend the Jewish people/nation from attackers. 2. “You shall inherit the Land and settle in Her” (Bamidbr 33, 53, ibid)- to defend the borders of the Land of Israel, to remain under Jewish rule. 3. Kiddush Hashem (Rambam, Hil. M’lachim 7, 15)- “to give honor/respectability to His Name and His Nation” (Sefer HaChinuch, 525). The only way we can fulfill our role of being a Light to the nations (Yishayahu 42, 6) is if we exist and defend ourselves from anti-Semites, and are respected by the gentiles, for “Wisdom of the weak is scorned and nobody listens to him” (Kohelet 9, 16). The Holocaust was a terrible desecration of G-d’s Name, because people wondered why His People suffer so without His intervention, and they surely didn’t want to emulate the frail victims and their values. Thank G-d, we’re not “there” any longer! For a more comprehensive study, see my extensive article which was published in the Hakira Torah Journal, Winter 5786/תשפ”ו, found here on the blog.