10 Jewish Ethics That Guide Wartime Israel

[Richard D]

These timeless Jewish values aren’t just ancient teachings; they shape how Israel defends itself, even in the most difficult moments of war.

When the Jewish state goes to war, it doesn’t leave its values behind. On the contrary, it brings them to the front lines.

Israel is often accused of being aggressive, militaristic, even heartless in its defense. But few stop to ask: What actually guides Israel in moments of war? What moral code shapes a nation constantly forced to defend itself in a world that rarely gives it the benefit of the doubt?

The answer is found not in think tanks or weapons systems, but in something much older: Jewish values. Rooted in Torah, refined through centuries of exile and persecution, and reborn in Jewish sovereignty, these principles form the spiritual architecture of Israel’s actions, even when those actions involve life-and-death decisions.

At a time when headlines flatten moral complexity, and Israel is judged by double standards, it’s worth stepping back and asking: What does it mean to fight like a Jew? What does it mean to wield power with a conscience?

Here are 10 Jewish values that don’t just explain how Israel fights, but why it must.

1) The Sanctity of Human Life:

https://open.substack.com/pub/futureofjewish/p/10-jewish-values-that-israel-goes

[Stargleamer]

1. Yes those values explain incidents like this. . .

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143482261

[Richard D]

2. Obviously..

.. You didn't read it. And obviously, you are in the wrong group. Antisemites not welcome here.

[ChazII]

3. #2, #3 and #4

are values that we all need to share. The 10 values are why I support Israel.

[sfdennis1]

4. ?

This post is a joke right? Killing civilians waiting in line for humanitarian aid? Which number is that? 1700 hundred dead Israelis but 50,000++ dead Palestinians. Is that #11? Netanyahu is a WAR CRIMINAL and Israel under his rule is as much a pariah warmongering nightmare as the U.S is under Trump. Tell yourself whatever fairy tales you need to to sleep at night, but the rest of the world has it eyes wide open.

[sfdennis1]

6. ??

I said what I said, and I’ll return the favor by saying the original post is gaslighting propaganda worthy of Faux News. So there AREN’T 50,000++ dead Palestinians? Humanitarian aid HASN’T been blocked many times? The Gaza Strip HASN’T been bombed into rubble, leaving tens and tens of thousands of Gazans homeless? There are many, many bad actors sowing chaos and violence in the Middle East, and Israel has now fully earned its place amongst them. Clearly you’re on the Bibi bandwagon and aren’t going to admit any errors in Israel’s policies or actions. I wish for a safe and secure Israeli state, but not at the expense of a Palestinian genocide. Ta Nehisi Coates The Message might help expand your awareness. I’ve said my peace, may you go in peace.

[JustAnotherGen]

7. You do realize this is the Jewish Group

Right?

[yardwork]

8. This is the Jewish group,

[JustAnotherGen]

9. It's just the

gall to come in here an denigrate Richard. I'm wondering why Richard's posts were removed yesterday.

[yardwork]

11. Soon there won't be anybody here speaking out against antisemitism.

[madaboutharry]

12. There are some who can be counted on to speak out.

עם ישראל חי

[Behind the Aegis]

16. So true.

And more are needed, sadly. The fact that anti-Semitism has a tow-hold on the left disgusts me. Of course, I am seeing homophobia making a roaring comeback too, which also pisses me off. The next few years are going to be SHIT.

[JustAnotherGen]

13. I'll keep hanging on

Last edited Wed Jun 25, 2025, 04:42 AM - Edit history (1)

The evil of anti-Semitism is that it is deeply ingrained in an insidious manner.

People don't WANT to understand.

[lostincalifornia]

10. Israel's adversaries have always judged it with a double standard. The aftermath of October 7 was a perfect

example of that double standard, when many of those anti-Israeli folks not only couldn't bring themselves to condemn what happened, but some even took great pains to justify it.

The march in NY by the Democratic Socialists of America actually praising the actions of hamas for the rapes, torture, and killings was deplorable, with some outlets pushing that it wasn't as bad as what happened.

It was disgusting.

The willful ignorance of some regarding the history of the Israeli/Palestinian issue is astounding.

[JustAnotherGen]

14. Step back even further

850K Jews were expelled from Arab countries for being Jewish after the formation of Israel.

They won't acknowledge that. They refuse to acknowledge that.

9 Arab Countries do not have birthright citizenship, Some of those cross reference to the expulsion of Jews veto 1948 and 1968.



https://www.federationcja.org/en/news/community-update/remembering-the-exile-of-jews-from-arab-lands_104079/

Despite the positive influence that Jews brought to the places where they lived, more than 850,000 Jews were forced to leave their homes in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Morocco, and several other Arab countries in the 20 years that followed the Arab-Israeli war of 1948. Another significant forced migration took place from Iran in 1979–80, following the Iranian Revolution and the collapse of the Shah’s regime, adding 70,000 more Jewish refugees to this number

[lostincalifornia]

15. Yup. Add the virulent antisemetic Mufti of Jerusalem during the the British mandate. and prior to WWII to the mix,

along with the cast of bad actors you mentioned.

I wonder how many are even aware that after the six day war, the Arab League summit in Khartoum demanded no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, and no negotiations with Israel.