Religious Zionism, Jewish Law, and the Morality of War

How Five Rabbis Confronted One of Modern Judaism's Greatest Challenges

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Theology, Ethics, Judaism
Cover of the book Religious Zionism, Jewish Law, and the Morality of War by Robert Eisen, Oxford University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Robert Eisen ISBN: 9780190687113
Publisher: Oxford University Press Publication: September 1, 2017
Imprint: Oxford University Press Language: English
Author: Robert Eisen
ISBN: 9780190687113
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication: September 1, 2017
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Language: English

Ever since the state of Israel was established in 1948, it has been plagued by war, and that has presented religious Zionists with an immense challenge. Jewish law prior to 1948 includes little material on war because it developed during centuries when Jews had neither a state nor an army. The leading rabbis of the religious Zionist community have therefore had to create an entire body of laws on this subject where practically none had existed beforehand. These rabbis have responded to the challenge with remarkable energy and ingenuity. Religious Zionist rabbis have produced a corpus of laws on war that is both comprehensive and nuanced, and these laws now serve as a critical source of guidance for Orthodox Israelis serving in their country's military. The present study is a pioneering work on this fascinating chapter in the history of Jewish law, a chapter that, up to now, has received relatively little attention from academic scholars. Robert Eisen examines how five of the most prominent rabbis in the religious Zionist community have dealt with key moral issues in war. The figures include R. Abraham Isaac Kook, R. Isaac Halevi Herzog, R. Eliezer Waldenberg, R. Sha'ul Yisraeli, and R. Shlomo Goren. Eisen also examines how the positions of these rabbis compare with those of international law. These explorations provide critical insight into the worldview of religious Zionism, which in recent years has become increasingly influential in Israeli politics.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Ever since the state of Israel was established in 1948, it has been plagued by war, and that has presented religious Zionists with an immense challenge. Jewish law prior to 1948 includes little material on war because it developed during centuries when Jews had neither a state nor an army. The leading rabbis of the religious Zionist community have therefore had to create an entire body of laws on this subject where practically none had existed beforehand. These rabbis have responded to the challenge with remarkable energy and ingenuity. Religious Zionist rabbis have produced a corpus of laws on war that is both comprehensive and nuanced, and these laws now serve as a critical source of guidance for Orthodox Israelis serving in their country's military. The present study is a pioneering work on this fascinating chapter in the history of Jewish law, a chapter that, up to now, has received relatively little attention from academic scholars. Robert Eisen examines how five of the most prominent rabbis in the religious Zionist community have dealt with key moral issues in war. The figures include R. Abraham Isaac Kook, R. Isaac Halevi Herzog, R. Eliezer Waldenberg, R. Sha'ul Yisraeli, and R. Shlomo Goren. Eisen also examines how the positions of these rabbis compare with those of international law. These explorations provide critical insight into the worldview of religious Zionism, which in recent years has become increasingly influential in Israeli politics.

More books from Oxford University Press

Cover of the book Social Epidemiology by Robert Eisen
Cover of the book Back in the Game by Robert Eisen
Cover of the book The Making of Buddhist Modernism by Robert Eisen
Cover of the book Counterinsurgency by Robert Eisen
Cover of the book Manic-Depressive Illness: Bipolar Disorders and Recurrent Depression by Robert Eisen
Cover of the book Great Power Rising by Robert Eisen
Cover of the book Jewish Daily Life in Germany, 1618-1945 by Robert Eisen
Cover of the book Musical Intimacies and Indigenous Imaginaries by Robert Eisen
Cover of the book Intellectual Property: A Very Short Introduction by Robert Eisen
Cover of the book Draw a Straight Line and Follow It by Robert Eisen
Cover of the book Adoption Beyond Borders by Robert Eisen
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of the Writings of the Hebrew Bible by Robert Eisen
Cover of the book Resounding Afro Asia by Robert Eisen
Cover of the book Polarization and the Politics of Personal Responsibility by Robert Eisen
Cover of the book Skepticism and American Faith by Robert Eisen
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy