RAV KOOK ON Ki Teitzei Part 2: Waging War

“When you wage a war against your enemies, and God will give you victory over them ...” (Deut. 21:10) War is perhaps the most tragic and horrific aspect of the human condition. Our most fervent wish is for peace. Peace is the final blessing of birkat kohanim. The closing statement of the Talmud also extols the unsurpassed importance of peace: ‘The Holy One found no vessel more capable of holding blessing for Israel than peace’ (Oktzin 3:12). So why does Jewish law include such concepts as compulsory and optional wars – milchemet mitzvah and milchemet reshut? Why do we find that the greatest spiritual leaders of the Jewish people – Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, King David, Rabbi Akiva – all led their nation into battle?