Traditional Judaism holds that there are two types of war:
(1) “permitted wars” (milkhemet reshut) (see Deuteronomy 20:10-15)
(2) “[divinely] commanded wars” (milkhemet mitzvah)
In “permitted wars,” the Jewish ruler is permitted to conquer other peoples, take their lands, and enslave them – if it advances the interests of Jews. If he is able, the Jewish ruler may conquer the entire world in this way.
In “divinely commanded wars,” Jews are commanded to genocide particular peoples. They must intentionally kill them – including all men, women, and children.
Now, under “divinely commanded wars,” there are two groups that Jews are commanded to genocide.
A. The first group consists in the seven nations inhabiting the land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael). These are the Canaanites, the Girgashites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Jebusites and the Perizzites (see Deuteronomy 20:16-18).
Jews are obliged to genocide this group so as to take their land.
B. The second group consists in the Amalekites (see Deuteronomy 25:19).
The Amalekites are an ancient people which existed at the time of Moses. These people showed themselves as hostile to Jews.
RELATED: Destroy Amalek! The Religious Origins of Zionist Genocide
However, later Jewish thinkers came to interpret the Amelekites as any group that showed itself to be an enemy to the Jews. It is taught that Jews have a sacred obligation to genocide Amelekites in all times and all places.
Over the years, Jewish scholars have applied the term “Amelekites” to pagan Romans, Christians, and Nazis. In recent times, the term has frequently been applied to Muslims – especially Palestinians.
For instance, Jewish prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu has described the current genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza, as a war to destroy Amalekites.
The Holiday to Remember the Sacred Duty of Genocide
Every year, there is an annual festival called Purim, where Jews are instructed to remember their continuing duty to genocide their enemies in all times and all places (i.e., destroy Amalek).
Traditional Jewish teachings on war are described in the a book known as Mishneh Torah. This book was written by Maimonides – the most famous Jewish religious scholar in history.
Maimonides says the following about “[divinely] commanded wars” in Mishneh Torah (Kings and Wars 5):
It is a positive commandment to annihilate the seven nations who dwelled in Eretz Yisrael as Deuteronomy 20:17 states: ‘You shall utterly destroy them.’
Anyone who chances upon one of them and does not kill him violates a negative commandment as ibid.:16 states: ‘Do not allow a soul to live.’ The memory of them has already been obliterated.
Similarly, it is a positive commandment to destroy the memory of Amalek, as Deuteronomy 25:19 states: ‘Obliterate the memory of Amalek.
It is also a positive commandment to constantly remember their evil deeds and their ambush of Israel to arouse our hatred of them, as ibid.:17 states: ‘Remember what Amalek did to you.’ The Oral Tradition teaches: …Remember’ – with your mouths; …Do not forget’ – in your hearts.’ For it is forbidden to forget our hatred and enmity for them.
Now look at the following video, in which a contemporary Rabbi explains the ongoing Jewish duty to kill enemies of the Jewish people in all times and places:
A contemporary Rabbi explains the ongoing Jewish duty to genocide enemies of the Jewish people in all times and places. pic.twitter.com/2fwveLWFWF
— Daniel Haqiqatjou (@Haqiqatjou) November 6, 2023
Religious Reform
Since the nineteenth century, leading Rabbis in the West have sought to distance themselves from traditional Jewish teachings on war and genocide.
One notable figure is the German Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888) – considered the father of modern Orthodox Judaism.
Hirsch creatively reinterprets Jewish scripture and doctrine to deny that Jews have a sacred obligation to commit genocides. Following Hirsch, many modern Jews deny that such an obligation exists.
For some instructive short writings on this matter see:
https://www.thejc.com/judaism/sidrah/beshallach-1.31450
https://jewishjournal.com/commentary/opinion/344089/amalek-and-the-problem-of-human-cruelty/
https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/dvar-torah/amalek-out-there-or-here-text-study-shabbat-zakhor/
What is the actual truth of what the children of Israel did to the people of the land there? Juice allege that Allah commanded them to do what is said in this article, but we can’t take their books and what they say, ie they make horrible accusations against Lut (peace be upon him). Did they went overboard and then lied that Allah commanded them to do that? What do we as muslims and the muslims scholars say what really happened?
“Allah does not change” – God of the old testament is a angry and cruel. These people most probably edited the old testament for political purposes and to rile up their populations to war. Allah is Ar Rahman. Allah knows best
Is the Raphael hirsh guy is he somehow related to to hershfield the jucie who invented transgenderism and did the first successful transgender surgery? Also I thought the father of modern Judaism was Moses mendsholen who lived in Prussia during the 1700s
*cough* *cough* maybe !-! 1 T L 3 R was right *cough* :P
what is that?
I was just jesting, i find it rather amusing that. Considering how violent their beliefs are. You figured that a certain chancellor of Germany was doing the right thing. (Of course, this statement is done in a tongue in cheek manner)
Rubbish.
Hitler considered Arabs half apes.
Anyone who shoved little kids into gas chambers is wrong.
There’s as much evidence for either of those claims as there is for Hamas fighters burning Palestinian babies- i.e. none.
There were zero gas chambers and the numbers are made up and the evidence is fabricated. They lie about everything under the sun. You think they’re telling the truth about this? These are people who rape prisoners to death and burn children alive. They’re depraved, soulless, deceitful, lying, murderous sociopaths and you can’t trust a word that comes out of their mouths.