11 Responses

1. A female IDF soldier, who had been missing since early Thursday morning, was found unharmed near her home in Haifa on Thursday night after an extensive police search.

   The 18-year-old soldier, who left her house in the city to travel to her army base, never reached her destination.

   Police said it was unclear why the soldier had gone missing.

2. The better question is why are there females in the idf.

3. Dear Joseph – Doesn’t the Gemara say that “Afilu Kalah min HaChupah” would be required to go out to fight a Milchemes Mitzvah? Also, isn’t one of the definitions of milchemes mitzvah defending Jewish lives in Eretz Yisroel when an enemy is attacking? According to this, wouldn’t it be a mitzvah for women to be in the IDF & to fulfill the mitzvah of pikuach nefesh on a daily basis?

4. Good point, Josheph.

   One thing is worth noting, however. We often hear stories of people missing and pray and worry about them as we should. However, very often these people put themselves in places of risk and danger.

   People in Israel need to be aware that there are places that one shouldn’t go to alone or unprotected. When I hear of boys who got lost in the desert or have encounters with Arabs due to hitchhiking where they shouldn’t, I wonder why they don’t realize the dangerous situation that exists today. We should try to help them but in the end, very often, they did it to themselves.

5. tzoorba You mean do not go to the Twin Towers on 9/11, cause ya know.
   something might happen. Where’s GD in the equation?

6. Tyre Tzvi, Check again the Gemara for the definition of a milchomos mitzvah.

   And check the Gemara for woman in combat.

   And yasher koach for looking up the gemaras.

7. Stan the man,

   There is an obvious difference between places that are likely to be dangerous or those that have no apparent danger.

   It is a halacha that one should not enter a broken down building due to the danger.

   Even though Hashem controls everything and can protect us in any situation, he requires of us to be cautious relating to natural dangers.

   A place where missiles are falling unhindered is an obvious place of danger. The only motivation to go there would be Zionist political.

8. ah stan the man…you have just as much ‘seichal’ as the REAL stan the man…v’hameivin yovin….

9. Hi Joseph –
   I agree with jdspero, please provide us with the exact quotes from the gemaras that you refer to, as well as the Dapim that they’re on.

   If you check the sefer hachinuch & minchas chinuch at the beginning of Parshas Ki Seitzei, you’ll find the various types of Milchomos that are considered a “Milchemes Mitzvah” and defending Jewish lives against an enemy in E”Y is indeed one of the examples of a battle that would be considered a Milchemes Mitzvah. (in fact, it may even be the #1 example)There shouldn’t be any debate about this. It is a simple fact that defending Jews in E”Y from several attempted attacks from the Arabs on a daily basis, would definitely be considered a Milchemes Mitzvah.

   It is also a fact that the Gemara states that “Afilu Kalah min HaChupah” would be required to fight in a Milchemes Mitzvah. No debate about that either, its a fact, its actually a famous Gemara.

   Therefore, I’m not sure how you’re trying to refute my point? Please explain.

10. Tzvi, Joseph is clearly correct. Woman cannot be warriors. Especially side by side with men, like the zionists do.

    And clearly the zionists wars are not milchomos mitzvahs. A milchomos mitzvah must be directly mandated by Hashem.

    Aside from the entire debate of all the sins of zionism; whether we can have a State prior to Moshiach; etc. Clearly on these 2 points (woman in war and milchomos mitzvah) are not applicable in the fighting going on in Eretz Yisroel.

11. tzoorba the obvious reason is zionist political,, HUH! Like the visit the Bostoner Rebbe shlit”a make to Gush Katif (with rockets overhead) to give chizuk, or the Rebbes who go to daven in Chevron is definitely a zionist political move?????!!!???