Episode

18. Who Shouldn't Serve in the Army?

Podcast
The Laws of War and Peace with Rav Shlomo Katz
Published
Jun 22, 2026
Duration seconds
3264
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://share.transistor.fm/s/a9c5807f
Audio
https://media.transistor.fm/a9c5807f/bcad7836.mp3
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/the-laws-of-war-and-peace-with-rav-shlomo-katz-7750010/episodes/18-who-shouldn-t-serve-in-the-army
Markdown
/podcast/the-laws-of-war-and-peace-with-rav-shlomo-katz-7750010/18-who-shouldn-t-serve-in-the-army.md

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Summary

Rav Shlomo Katz and the chevra of Shirat David dive into the heart of the current debate surrounding the IDF draft and Torah study. Seeking a "brand new light" to heal the divisiveness, the Shiur explores the historical precedents of Avraham and King Asa, who were both punished for taking Torah scholars out to war. Rav Shlomo addresses the complex realities on both sides: the genuine fear of spiritual decline in the army, balanced against the ultimate mitzvah of saving lives (Pikuach Nefesh) and the reality that the Shechinah (Divine Presence) dwells in the army camp. Exploring the nuanced rulings of Rav Moshe Feinstein and the successful model of Hesder yeshivas, this episode calls for a massive paradigm shift and a bottom-up spiritual awakening. ---------- 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 CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro, Dedications, and a Grandfather's Story 04:15 - The Most Sensitive Sugia: The Draft and Torah Study 08:30 - Why Avraham and King Asa Were Punished for Drafting Scholars 15:00 - What if the Media Actually Interviewed the Yeshivas? 21:45 - The Greater War: Eradicating the Spirit of Hamas 28:20 - What Rav Moshe Feinstein Actually Wrote About Exemptions 35:00 - A Soldier's Perspective & The Hesder Yeshiva Model 41:15 - The Shechinah in the Army Camp and Pikuach Nefesh