Ruach Tzahal Draws from Four Sources:
- The tradition of the IDF and its military heritage as the Israel Defense Forces.
- The tradition of the State of Israel, its democratic principles, laws and institutions.
- The tradition of the Jewish People throughout their history.
- Universal moral values based on the value and dignity of human life.
(15) Shun evil and do good,
seek peace and pursue it.
רודף שלום כיצד מלמד שיהא אדם רודף שלום בישראל בין כל אחד ואחד (כדרך שהיה אהרן רודף שלום בישראל בין כל אחד ואחד שנאמר (תהלים לד) סור מרע ועשה טוב בקש שלום ורדפהו: ר׳ שמעון בן אלעזר אומר) אם יושב אדם במקומו ושותק היאך רודף שלום בישראל בין כל א׳ וא׳ [אלא יצא ממקומו ויחזור בעולם וירדוף שלום בישראל] שנאמר (שם) בקש שלום ורדפהו. הא כיצד בקשהו ממקומך רדפהו למקום אחר אף...
Pursue peace. How so? This teaches that a person should pursue peace in Israel between everyone (in the way that Aaron would pursue peace in Israel between everyone, as it says [Psalms 34:15], “Turn from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar would say:) If a person stays quietly in his place, how can he pursue peace in Israel between everyone? [Rather, he should go out from his place and into the world and pursue peace in Israel,] as it says, “Seek peace and pursue it.” How does this work? Seek it where you are, and pursue it in some other place...
(1) יהוה איש מלחמה, יהוה שמו, even though He at times appears as the איש מלחמה, the “Man” of war who destroys His foes by invoking the attribute of Justice, He is yet predominantly Adonai, the God Who practices mercy. It is this attribute of His which is responsible for the continued existence of all His creatures. When He destroys His foes, He is in effect removing weeds from the garden in order to enable the useful plants to survive and develop. The wicked are like the thorns and thistles in a vineyard.
בד"א במלחמות הרשות אבל במלחמות מצוה הכל יוצאין אפילו חתן מחדרו וכלה מחופתה
The mishna adds: In what case are all of these statements, with regard to the various exemptions from war, said? They are said with regard to elective wars. But in wars whose mandate is a mitzva, everyone goes, even a groom from his room and a bride from her wedding canopy.
(ב) מִלְחֶמֶת מִצְוָה אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִטּל בָּהּ רְשׁוּת בֵּית דִּין. אֶלָּא יוֹצֵא מֵעַצְמוֹ בְּכָל עֵת. וְכוֹפֶה הָעָם לָצֵאת. אֲבָל מִלְחֶמֶת הָרְשׁוּת אֵינוֹ מוֹצִיא הָעָם בָּהּ אֶלָּא עַל פִּי בֵּית דִּין שֶׁל שִׁבְעִים וְאֶחָד:
(2) He does not need to obtain permission from the Court to engage in a War of Mitzvah but he may, at any time, on his own, compel the people to go out to war. However, he requires the authorization of the Court of Seventy-One to take the people with him go out to fight a Discretionary War.
From These Sources Come Three Fundamental Values:
(1) Defense of the State, its Citizens and Residents
The purpose of the IDF is to protect the existence of the state of Israel, its independence, and the security of its citizens and residents.
גמ׳ והתורה אמרה אם בא להורגך השכם להורגו
GEMARA: And the Torah stated a principle: If someone comes to kill you, rise and kill him first.
(2) Patriotism and Loyalty to the State
Service in the IDF is based on patriotism, commitment and devotion to the democratic State of Israel and to its citizens and residents.
הַתִּקְוַה
כָּל עוֹד בִּלְבַב פּנִימָה, נֶפֶשׁ יְהוּדִי הוֹמִיַה,
וּלְפַאתֵּי מִזְרַח קָדִימָה, עַיִן לֶצְיוֹן צוֹפִיהַ,
עוֹד לֹא אַבְדָה תְּקְוַתֵינוּ, הַתִּקְוַה בַּתְ שְׁנוֹת אַלְפַּיִים,
לְהְיוֹת עִם חוֹפְשִׁי בְּאַרְצֵנוּ, אֶרֶץ צִיוֹן וְיְרוּשָׁלַים.
Hatikvah
As long as in the heart, within
A Jewish soul still yearns
And onward, towards the ends of the east
An eye still yearns toward Zion
Our hope is not yet lost
The hope of two thousand years
To be a free people in our land
The land of Zion and Jerusalem
(3) Human Dignity
The IDF and its soldiers are obligated to preserve human dignity. All humans are to be valued, regardless of race, creed, nationality, gender, status or role
לְפִיכָךְ נִבְרָא אָדָם יְחִידִי, לְלַמֶּדְךָ,... שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמַר אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ אַבָּא גָדוֹל מֵאָבִיךָ.
Again [but a single person was created] for the sake of peace among humankind, that one should not say to another, “My father was greater than your father”.
From These Fundamental Values Come Ten Additional Values:
(1) Human Life
The IDF serviceman will, above all, preserve human life, in the recognition of its supreme value and will place himself or others at risk solely to the extent required to carry out his mission.
The sanctity of life in the eyes of the IDF servicemen will find expression in all of their actions, in deliberate and meticulous planning, in safe and intelligent training and in proper execution of their mission. In evaluating the risk to self and others, they will use the appropriate standards and will exercise constant care to limit injury to life to the extent required to accomplish the mission.
שכל המאבד נפש אחת מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו איבד עולם מלא וכל המקיים נפש אחת מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו קיים עולם מלא
Therefore, Adam the first man was created alone, to teach you that with regard to anyone who destroys one soul the verse ascribes him blame as if he destroyed an entire world, as Adam was one person, from whom the population of an entire world came forth. And conversely, anyone who sustains one soul the verse ascribes him credit as if he sustained an entire world.
(2) Purity of Arms
The IDF serviceman will use force of arms only for the purpose of subduing the enemy to the necessary extent and will limit his use of force so as to prevent unnecessary harm to human life and limb, dignity and property.
The IDF servicemen's purity of arms is their self-control in use of armed force. They will use their arms only for the purpose of achieving their mission, without inflicting unnecessary injury to human life or limb; dignity or property, of both soldiers and civilians, with special consideration for the defenseless, whether in wartime, or during routine security operations, or in the absence of combat, or times of peace.
בֶּן זוֹמָא אוֹמֵר,אֵיזֶהוּ גִבּוֹר, הַכּוֹבֵשׁ אֶת יִצְרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי טז) טוֹב אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם מִגִּבּוֹר וּמשֵׁל בְּרוּחוֹ מִלֹּכֵד עִיר.
Ben Zoma said:... Who is mighty? He who subdues his [evil] inclination, as it is said: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32).
(10) When you approach a town to attack it, you shall offer it terms of peace.
(3) Personal Example
The IDF serviceman will comport himself as is required of him and will, himself, act as he demands of others, thoughtfully and dedicatedly, aware of his ability and responsibility to serve as a role model to those around him.
The personal example of the IDF servicemen is their acting as is demanded of them and as they themselves demand of others, their clear and convincing readiness to serve as an example to those around them, in their actions and comportment, to create, uphold and foster mutual identification and joint responsibility in properly carrying out their tasks and accomplishing their missions in all areas of military activity.
(א) בֶּן זוֹמָא אוֹמֵר... אֵיזֶהוּ מְכֻבָּד, הַמְכַבֵּד אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל א ב) כִּי מְכַבְּדַי אֲכַבֵּד וּבֹזַי יֵקָלּוּ:
(1) Ben Zoma said:... Who is he that is honored? He who honors his fellow human beings as it is said: “For I honor those that honor Me, but those who spurn Me shall be dishonored” (I Samuel 2:30).
(ב) בֶּן עַזַּאי אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי רָץ לְמִצְוָה קַלָּה כְבַחֲמוּרָה, וּבוֹרֵחַ מִן הָעֲבֵרָה. שֶׁמִּצְוָה גּוֹרֶרֶת מִצְוָה, וַעֲבֵרָה גוֹרֶרֶת עֲבֵרָה. שֶׁשְּׂכַר מִצְוָה, מִצְוָה. וּשְׂכַר עֲבֵרָה, עֲבֵרָה:
(2) Ben Azzai said: Be quick in performing a (even a) minor commandment as you do in the case of a major one, and flee from transgression; For one commandment leads to another commandment, and transgression leads to another transgression; For the reward for performing a commandment is another commandment and the reward for committing a transgression is a transgression.
(4) Responsibility
The IDF serviceman will see himself as an active participant in the defense of his country and its citizens. He will carry out his duties decisively, resolutely and with vigor, within the limits of his authority.
The responsibility of IDF servicemen is their active partnership and their readiness to use their utmost abilities in the defense of the State, its sovereignty, and the lives and safety of its citizens, within the framework of authority granted them by the IDF. They will carry out their duties fully, diligently, and with determination, commitment and initiative, in clear awareness that they are answerable for any consequences.
(5) Comradeship
The IDF serviceman will always go to the aid of his comrades when they need his help or depend on him, despite any danger or difficulty, even to the point of risking his life.
The fellowship of IDF servicemen is their bond as comrades in arms. It is their unwavering commitment to each other, their readiness to extend appropriate assistance, to go to the aid of a comrade, and even risk their lives on his behalf. In all their actions they will uphold and strengthen the solidarity of their unit in full cooperation with other units, and in support of the overall goals of the IDF.
(ו) יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן פְּרַחְיָה וְנִתַּאי הָאַרְבֵּלִי קִבְּלוּ מֵהֶם. יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן פְּרַחְיָה אוֹמֵר, עֲשֵׂה לְךָ רַב, וּקְנֵה לְךָ חָבֵר, וֶהֱוֵי דָן אֶת כָּל הָאָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת:
(6) Yehoshua ben Perachia says: Make for yourself a Rabbi, acquire for yourself a friend, and judge every person as meritorious.
היינו דאמרי אינשי או חברותא או מיתותא
Here is the folk saying that people say: Either friendship or death, as one who has no friends is better off dead.
(6) Professionalism
The IDF serviceman will aspire to be familiar with and understand the body of knowledge pertaining to his military position and will master every skill necessary for carrying out his duties.
The professionalism of IDF servicemen is their ability to correctly perform their military duties through striving to constantly excel in and improve their unit's and their individual achievements. They will do so by broadening their knowledge, and increasing proficiency, based upon the lessons of experience and study of the heritage and by expanding and deepening their understanding of the body of military knowledge.
(א) חכמה. מַה שֶּׁאָדָם שׁוֹמֵעַ מֵאֲחֵרִים וְלָמֵד:
(ב) תבונה. מֵבִין דָּבָר מִלִּבּוֹ מִתּוֹךְ דְּבָרִים שֶׁלָּמַד:
(ג) דעת. רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ:
(1) חכמה WISDOM is what a person hears from others and learns (makes his own).
(2) תבונה UNDERSTANDING is understanding a matter by one’s own intelligence deducing it from the things one has already learned.
(3) דעת means holy inspiration.
(יז) רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה אוֹמֵר, ... אִם אֵין בִּינָה, אֵין דַּעַת. אִם אֵין דַּעַת, אֵין בִּינָה.
(17) Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah said: ... Where there is no understanding, there is no knowledge; where there is no knowledge, there is no understanding.
(7) Discipline
The IDF serviceman will execute completely and successfully all that is required of him according to the letter and spirit of his orders and within the framework of the law.
The discipline of IDF servicemen is their readiness to act to the full extent of their abilities, to carry out what is demanded of them completely, according to their understanding of the letter of the orders they have received, and successfully, according to the spirit of their orders. It is their readiness to obey orders amidst a constant striving to execute them with understanding and dedication. They will take care to issue only legal orders, and disavow manifestly illegal orders.
And do not forsake the instruction of your mother;
הֱווּ מְתוּנִים בַּדִּין, וְהַעֲמִידוּ תַלְמִידִים הַרְבֵּה, וַעֲשׂוּ סְיָג לַתּוֹרָה:
Be patient in [the administration of] justice, raise many disciples and make a fence round the Torah.
(8) Loyalty and Representativeness
The IDF serviceman will act with complete dedication in the defense of the State of Israel and its citizens, according to IDF orders, within the framework of the laws of the State and democratic principles.
The IDF serviceman will also constantly see himself as a representative and an emissary of the IDF. As such he will act solely on the basis of the authority he has been given and orders he has been issued.
The loyalty of IDF servicemen is their dedication, in all actions, to their homeland, the State of Israel, its citizens and armed forces, and their constant readiness to fight and devote all their power, even at the risk of their own lives, in the defense of the sovereign State of Israel and the lives and the safety of its inhabitants, according to the values and orders of the IDF, while following the laws and the democratic principles of the State.
The representativeness of IDF servicemen is their consciousness, expressed in all their actions, that the armed force placed in their hands and the power to use it are given to them only as members of the IDF and its authorized representatives, duly executing their orders in accordance with the laws of the State of Israel and is subject to its Government.
And the hills be shaken,
But my loyalty shall never move from you,
Nor My covenant of friendship be shaken
—said the LORD, who takes you back in love.
(9) Reliability and Trustworthiness
The IDF serviceman will strive in all his actions to fulfill his duties correctly and at the highest professional level, from exacting and thorough preparation to true, honest, complete and precise reporting.
The trustworthiness of IDF servicemen is their reliability in fully carrying out their charge, using their military skills, with the sincere belief and conviction that they are acting professionally. They are ready at all times to present things as they are, in planning, executing and reporting truthfully, completely, courageously and honestly.
(10) Perseverance in Mission and Dedication to the Pursuit of Victory
The IDF serviceman will fight and conduct himself with courage in the face of all dangers and obstacles; he will persevere in his mission courageously, resolutely and thoughtfully even to the point of endangering his own life.
The perseverance of IDF servicemen in their mission is their capability and readiness to fight courageously in the face of danger and in most challenging situations; to strive unremittingly to achieve the military goal effectively, with full regard for the particular circumstances, notwithstanding any difficulty, stress or adversity or even mortal danger. They will do so with proper judgment and with due regard for risks.
אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יְהוּדָה לֹא כָּךְ הָיָה מַעֲשֶׂה אֶלָּא זֶה אוֹמֵר אֵין אֲנִי יוֹרֵד תְּחִילָּה לַיָּם וְזֶה אוֹמֵר אֵין אֲנִי יוֹרֵד תְּחִילָּה לַיָּם קָפַץ נַחְשׁוֹן בֶּן עַמִּינָדָב וְיָרַד לַיָּם תְּחִילָּה
Rabbi Yehuda said to Rabbi Meir: This tribe said: I am not going into the sea first, and that tribe said: I am not going into the sea first. Then, in jumped the prince of Judah, Nahshon ben Amminadav, and descended into the sea first, accompanied by his entire tribe.
ו וכמו שהיה מחכמת האלוה להסב אותם במדבר עד שילמדו גבורה
It was the result of God's wisdom that the Israelites were led about in the wilderness until they acquired courage.