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What justifies war when the Jewish people need sustenance? The shiur develops a fundamental distinction between justice and vengeance to explain milchemes reshus. Rather than imperialistic conquest, optional wars are acts of divine vengeance—reclaiming God's sovereignty when nations fail to uphold the Noahide laws and create viable economies.
This shiur explores the difficult question of how the Torah (תורה) can justify optional wars (milchemes reshus) when the Jewish people need sustenance, seemingly allowing killing for economic reasons. Rabbi Zweig begins by analyzing Rashi (רש"י)'s connection between proper judgment and victory in war, particularly focusing on the laws of perjured witnesses (eidim zomemim) and the requirement that those missing limbs cannot go to war. The shiur addresses apparent contradictions in the war narrative: while the Torah emphasizes that God fights on behalf of Israel, making human effort seemingly minimal, it simultaneously provides detailed laws about who must return from battle—those recently engaged, who built houses, or planted vineyards, as well as those who are afraid. This creates a tension between divine involvement and human responsibility in warfare.
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Parshas Shoftim 20:1
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What is the primary purpose of the cities of refuge - protecting the accidental killer or something else? The shiur argues that creating respect for law takes precedence over providing sanctuary. True deterrence comes from recognizing the gravity of murder itself, not fear of punishment.
