The Laws of War and Peace with Rav Shlomo Katz

19. Can We Rely on Miracles?

Can a Jewish leader take a massive risk in order to save the Jewish people? Or does Torah demand that we avoid relying on miracles? In this final shiur of the season, Rav Shlomo Katz and the chevra of Shirat David explore one of the deepest and most sensitive questions in Jewish history: Was it permissible for Ben-Gurion to declare the State of Israel when the odds of survival seemed impossible? Beginning with the story of Matityahu and the Maccabees, the shiur examines the Torah's approach to military risk, faith, and leadership. Why did some great rabbanim oppose Zionism? How should we understand those positions today? And how do Torah leaders balance military expertise with spiritual vision when making decisions that affect the lives of an entire nation? Along the way, Rav Shlomo reflects on the divisions within Am Yisrael, the legacy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, Oslo, Iran, and the ongoing challenge of building a Jewish future rooted in both faith and responsibility. ---------- 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 Yahrzeit 03:15 - Can a Military General Halachically Take Risks? 08:45 - The Spiritual Roots of Anti-Zionism and Finding True Unity 16:20 - Ben Gurion's 1948 Declaration: A Miracle or a Gamble? 24:00 - Stop Settling: Living "L'chatchila" vs. "Bedieved" 35:30 - Bombing Iran and the Modern Miracles We Take for Granted 43:15 - Dovid HaMelech's Council: Balancing Strategy and the Sanhedrin 52:00 - Bottom-Up Brotherhood: What God Really Wants to Hear

18. Who Shouldn't Serve in the Army?

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

17. Can a Jew Sit on the Sidelines During a War?

One of the most powerful sections in all of Tanach is not a battle. It's the song that comes after it. Rav Shlomo Katz and the chevra of Shirat David explore Shirat Devorah and the extraordinary way Devorah HaNeviah speaks about those who came to help Am Yisrael in a time of war—and those who chose not to. Why does Devorah bless Yael alongside Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, and Leah? Why are some tribes praised while others are sharply rebuked? And why does Chazal derive the laws of nidui and cherem from Devorah's response to those who stayed on the sidelines? Moving beyond technical halachic discussions, this shiur asks a deeper question: What does the Torah expect from us when Jews are under attack? ---------- 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 Opening: Page 78 and the General Principle 01:33 Introducing Shirat Devorah and Its Context 03:25 Blessings to Tribes and Yael in the Song 05:07 Rashi on Women's Blessings and the Holy Mothers 07:44 Understanding Nidui – Excommunication Concept 08:54 Devorah's Rebuke to Non-Participating Tribes 11:57 Modern Parallel: Blessings vs Obligations 15:05 Halachic Details of Nidui and Cherem 20:56 Contemporary Solutions and Government Policies 23:29 Need for a Spiritual Revolution, Not Tactics 25:59 Women in the Tanks & Supreme Court Decision 28:03 Judicial Reform and Democracy Debate 30:10 Halachic Limits on Excommunication (Cherem) 32:27 Moses, Gad & Reuven: Refusal to Fight 35:16 Rambam on Running Away: Slashing the Shin 36:43 Universal Attack Overrides Political Divides 41:09 Gedolim's Vision: Torah-Based Army Leadership

16. The Draft Debate and the Meaning of Shevet Levi

The conversation around drafting yeshiva students often begins with opinions. This shiur begins with Torah. Continuing the exploration of one of the most sensitive issues facing Am Yisrael, Rav Shlomo Katz and the chevra of Shirat David examine the Rambam's famous discussion of Shevet Levi and the claim that Torah learners occupy a unique role within the Jewish people. But does the Rambam actually exempt Torah learners from military service? Why doesn't he explicitly say so? Why were all the other tribes counted among those who went out to war? And what can we learn from the surprising role of Kohanim in Jewish battles throughout Tanach and Chazal? Rather than offering slogans or easy answers, this shiur uncovers the deeper roots of the debate and challenges listeners to approach the subject with humility, seriousness, and a genuine search for truth. ---------- 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 Sponsor Acknowledgments and Opening Blessings 01:02 Introducing the Sensitive Draft Topic and Its Controversy 04:05 Recap: Counting of Am Yisrael and Shevet Levi 06:43 Rambam on Learners' Exemption from Military Service 09:14 Clarifying Rambam's Language – Questions from the Class 23:22 Kohanim Participation in Biblical Wars 25:37 Pachad Reality: Why Kohanim Couldn't Fight 26:41 Who Can Claim Levi Status More Than a Kohen? 28:02 Proofs That Kohanim Actually Served in Battle 30:11 The Halachic Question of Kohen with Yefat Toar 34:15 Modern Tzahal: Non-Combat Soldiers and Kohen Issues 44:19 Closing Thoughts and Ongoing Questions

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

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