# 15. Can We Talk About the Draft Without Hating Each Other?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-laws-of-war-and-peace-with-rav-shlomo-katz-7750010/15-can-we-talk-about-the-draft-without-hating-each-other
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-laws-of-war-and-peace-with-rav-shlomo-katz-7750010/15-can-we-talk-about-the-draft-without-hating-each-other.md
Podcast: [The Laws of War and Peace with Rav Shlomo Katz](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-laws-of-war-and-peace-with-rav-shlomo-katz-7750010)
Published: 2026-06-03T09:44:16+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/23deb69d
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/23deb69d/2ab57512.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-laws-of-war-and-peace-with-rav-shlomo-katz-7750010/episodes/15-can-we-talk-about-the-draft-without-hating-each-other
Duration seconds: 3125

## Resource

Few conversations in Israel today are more painful, emotional, or explosive than the question of drafting yeshiva students into the army. But in this shiur, Rav Shlomo Katz insists on approaching the topic not through politics, anger, or slogans — but through Torah. Beginning with the census of מלחמה in Sefer Bamidbar, the role of Shevet Levi, the Rambam’s understanding of Torah leadership, and the relationship between mesirus nefesh and השראת השכינה, the conversation becomes an honest and vulnerable exploration of responsibility, achdus, and what it means to carry the burden of Am Yisrael together. More than anything, this shiur wrestles with the emotional and spiritual fracture inside Am Yisrael itself, and the challenge of remaining rooted in ahavat Yisrael even during the hardest disagreements imaginable. ---------- For more Shuirim and Music from Rav Shlomo Katz, visit: https://ravshlomokatz.com Join Rav Shlomo Katz's WhatsApp Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KHKOhhPaeHx5Kb74WL9L9a?mode=ems_copy_t 00:00 Dedication of Niggun for Yonatan Razel's Recovery 04:31 Introducing the Hot Issue: Drafting Yeshiva Students 06:32 Biblical Basis: Counting Soldiers in the Desert 08:59 Shechina Linked to Census and the Army 14:36 Why Shevet Levi Isn’t Counted in the Military Census 21:17 Teaching Style: Speaking the Language of the Audience 26:34 Rambam’s Description of the Levites’ Role 27:57 Levi’s Mission Beyond Combat According to Rambam 29:39 Amalek Analogy in Modern Discussion 30:54 Levi Exemption Explained: Their Sacred Duty 41:29 Contemporary Charedi Attitudes Toward Military Service 50:13 Call for Vulnerability and Community Action 51:22 Amalek Metaphor and the Need for Resilience

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