Shoftim: Priorities in a Time of War

Sometimes we lose track of what really matters. Other 'stuff' gets in the way; whether it's mundane distractions like everyday work, e-mail, and 

Facebook, or temptations like money, fame, and power. Or it could even be disastrous events, like accidents, illnesses, or war. And it's ok to get distracted for a time, but the work that we all must do is to bring ourselves back to our core values. The Torah reminds us of this in an interesting passage in this week's Torah portion.

In this case, the distraction in question is war. A reality for Ancient Israel as it (sadly) is still for us today. How do you behave in war time? What are the responsibilities of the community, as well as those of the individual? In the middle of these combat laws, the Torah talks about 

mobilizing your troops for war. And while the officials are gathering together men who can fight, they are required to make the following proclamation: "Is there anyone here who has built a new house, but who has not yet dedicated it? Let him go back to his home, lest he die in battle and another dedicate it (instead of him)." (Deut. 20:5) The proclamation continues by asking if anyone has planted a vineyard, but not dedicated it, betrothed a women but not yet married her, or ultimately if anyone is just too afraid or disheartened to march into battle. What is this section meant to teach us?

Rabbi Gunther Plaut, in the Reform Movement's Torah commentary, explains that these various commands 'follow an order of even greater anxiety: the home builder, the farmer (who works four years before harvesting), the newly married, and lastly the coward.' Personally, I 

think it's a bit harsh to call the poor guy a coward, but I think we all see his point. Plaut also suggests that the anxiety felt by any and all of these individuals could 'prove infectious,' and would affect company morale. He also refers to a commentary by Gerhard von Rad, where the author posits that 'it was believed that someone who had to dedicate a thing was threatened by demons who were dangerous for others as well.' I would like to add another interpretation to these various thought-provoking ideas.

It's about priorities. The Torah knows that war is important, or at least necessary. Yes, in this very moment, the battle is vital and a matter of life and death. But in the grand scheme of things, there are OTHER things that matter more: Creating a home, providing sustenance for self and others, love and family, and even emotional health and stability. 

The Torah isn't just ranking these in order of greater anxiety, it's also listing them in terms of more significant core values. And by proclaiming these out loud to the ENTIRE army, you are both exempting those who have immediate needs to which they must attend, but you're also reminding EVERYONE of what it is we're fighting for. You are letting them know that yes, we must fight today, but let us never battle just for the sake of waging war. And let us work tirelessly to ensure that war is a temporary reality; never a permanent one. Sadly, we still have trouble learning that last lesson. There are more important values out there, in each of our lives, and in the community as a whole. We lose sight of them sometimes, but hopefully never for too long. We simply can't afford it.

Photos in this blog post:

1. CC image courtesy of FindYourSearch on Flickr

2. CC image courtesy of Moyan Brenn onFlickr

3. CC image courtesy of Michael Hodge on Flickr

4. CC image courtesy of Howard Lake on Flickr