Why do the Army? Why Machal?
People often have asked me what I am doing the army for. Actually, since I have arrived in Israel, hardly anyone asked me. Only the [mandatorily] cute girl in the lishkat haGiyus did, and that's her job. But still, the question is Out There, and so I feel an answer should also be in that same ephemeral space. Therefore, let me make a clear and simple statement, one that I may revise or regret later, but nevertheless a statement, so that I can intimiately reach out with love to all the nice people who Google me.
ADVANCED HUMOR WARNING: This post will NOT be funny, if I can help it.
"Only in Subjectivity is there Decision. To seek Objectivity is to be in error."
-Soren Kierkegaard
Reasons are meaningful only within the context of values, like an electron in a magnetic field, much as a quarterback's strong throwing arm only has purpose and meaning on a playing field [in fact, he is only a 'quarterback' by the grace of the game of (real, i.e. US) football]. Football has rules. Why? Because. And that's how you play the game. So my reasons will make sense when I tell you my values, that is, how I play the game. My reasons, admitedly personal, must follow an introduction to my [subjectively] chosen values. Here is that introduction:
Me, I, the Amitai, is a construction based upon the Torah. I bring the Torah into harmony with the world I experience, and if I ceased doing so, I would not be the same me. This carefully crafted sentence is calculated to be just ambiguous enough of a statement to tick off as many people as possible. Please remember that other posts contain stories, as well as clues as to how you may win, under certain unmentionable circumstanace, 10 trillion Farquadian pesos.
Israel is a country willy-nilly by dint of the Torah. The Torah has pointed at the land, religiously, historically, culturally, heroically, experimentally, passionately, and the roots we have sown in the soil here are no longer Moses' alone (Mitzvot exclusive to the Holy Land; see Sotah 14a). We can love the land more than he, since we have history there, and Moses did not. We love it for David's sake as well as Moses' yearning. We love it for Herzl's sake, as well as David's.
Here's a cliche: A country needs doctors, poets, engineers, rabbis, and an army. So an Israeli Army is a good thing. The personal motivation of its soldiers does not have to be justified, as R' Lichtenstein aims to ("An Ideology of Hesder" reprinted in Leaves of Faith, see Brill's review in Edah Journal). In light of current political developments, it may need to be said that this value does not give soldiers moral licensce to absolve themselve of guilt for their actions. Attach any convienient apologetic for the existence of the Jewish People, and this conclusion ineluctably follows.
I realize that I am thereby imposing my values on others; I do not value pluralism in that sense. I accept that others do not have to accept my imposition upon them. But I yet maintain in the face of all, that it is not the right thing "for me to do," or"for me right now." It is the right thing, period. True, not everyone can serve, nor should they, but that does not alter the positive value assigned to living in Israel, and the existence of that State, and consequently serving in the IDF. It is the same way that I believe, feel, and think that living in Israel is the right thing to do. Not the right thing "for me," nor "right now," but the the entire clan. There are generous allowances for those who cannot move to Israel, compelled by education, finances, marriage, emotional ties to family, fear of culture shock, etc., but all should agree in a real, not-just-lip-service way, that Israel is the Jewish homeland, and all other lands are nice places to visit, even if I live here all my life, and its culture is my culture.
That being said, I personally look forward to getting in shape, acculturating, learning Hebrew (not the same thing), making friends, and working with powerful machinery. I do not relish the thought of killing, though I do understand that 'Evil is when good people stand by and do nothing.' Considering my values, these reasons may be significant. Consider the example of marriage: it is a mitzvah, an agreed upon value in the community of those who value the Torah. It serves that public, and is considered as such. And yet, I would hope you don't marry because, "well, s/he's a bit nebbish, slight [40 lbs.] belly,...but it's a mitzvah!" That is, in a community of like Values, there may be (altruistic?) Value to the community by pursuing private interests that the community values. I feel that holds with army service.
ADVANCED HUMOR WARNING: This post will NOT be funny, if I can help it.
"Only in Subjectivity is there Decision. To seek Objectivity is to be in error."
-Soren Kierkegaard
Reasons are meaningful only within the context of values, like an electron in a magnetic field, much as a quarterback's strong throwing arm only has purpose and meaning on a playing field [in fact, he is only a 'quarterback' by the grace of the game of (real, i.e. US) football]. Football has rules. Why? Because. And that's how you play the game. So my reasons will make sense when I tell you my values, that is, how I play the game. My reasons, admitedly personal, must follow an introduction to my [subjectively] chosen values. Here is that introduction:
Me, I, the Amitai, is a construction based upon the Torah. I bring the Torah into harmony with the world I experience, and if I ceased doing so, I would not be the same me. This carefully crafted sentence is calculated to be just ambiguous enough of a statement to tick off as many people as possible. Please remember that other posts contain stories, as well as clues as to how you may win, under certain unmentionable circumstanace, 10 trillion Farquadian pesos.
Israel is a country willy-nilly by dint of the Torah. The Torah has pointed at the land, religiously, historically, culturally, heroically, experimentally, passionately, and the roots we have sown in the soil here are no longer Moses' alone (Mitzvot exclusive to the Holy Land; see Sotah 14a). We can love the land more than he, since we have history there, and Moses did not. We love it for David's sake as well as Moses' yearning. We love it for Herzl's sake, as well as David's.
Here's a cliche: A country needs doctors, poets, engineers, rabbis, and an army. So an Israeli Army is a good thing. The personal motivation of its soldiers does not have to be justified, as R' Lichtenstein aims to ("An Ideology of Hesder" reprinted in Leaves of Faith, see Brill's review in Edah Journal). In light of current political developments, it may need to be said that this value does not give soldiers moral licensce to absolve themselve of guilt for their actions. Attach any convienient apologetic for the existence of the Jewish People, and this conclusion ineluctably follows.
I realize that I am thereby imposing my values on others; I do not value pluralism in that sense. I accept that others do not have to accept my imposition upon them. But I yet maintain in the face of all, that it is not the right thing "for me to do," or"for me right now." It is the right thing, period. True, not everyone can serve, nor should they, but that does not alter the positive value assigned to living in Israel, and the existence of that State, and consequently serving in the IDF. It is the same way that I believe, feel, and think that living in Israel is the right thing to do. Not the right thing "for me," nor "right now," but the the entire clan. There are generous allowances for those who cannot move to Israel, compelled by education, finances, marriage, emotional ties to family, fear of culture shock, etc., but all should agree in a real, not-just-lip-service way, that Israel is the Jewish homeland, and all other lands are nice places to visit, even if I live here all my life, and its culture is my culture.
That being said, I personally look forward to getting in shape, acculturating, learning Hebrew (not the same thing), making friends, and working with powerful machinery. I do not relish the thought of killing, though I do understand that 'Evil is when good people stand by and do nothing.' Considering my values, these reasons may be significant. Consider the example of marriage: it is a mitzvah, an agreed upon value in the community of those who value the Torah. It serves that public, and is considered as such. And yet, I would hope you don't marry because, "well, s/he's a bit nebbish, slight [40 lbs.] belly,...but it's a mitzvah!" That is, in a community of like Values, there may be (altruistic?) Value to the community by pursuing private interests that the community values. I feel that holds with army service.
posted by Shlome at 4:42 AM
1 Comments:
First I'd like to say how much I appreciate the colors...must've spent hours just choosing what colors to use...
Secondly, I'm glad you've thought this all through and aren't rushing into things. :)
Maybe you should print this out and read it through ifever basic training or later service gets you down and causes you to wonder why you got involved in the future.
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