Citing ‘biblical precedents,’ Aviner referenced the Book of Esther, highlighting that after their victory, the Jews refrained from taking spoils from their enemies
ed note–as always, lots of ‘must knows’ that every Gentile with a vested interest in his/her own future survival needs to understand about this…
Firsto, please note the verb being used here–‘URGE’–which carries no obligation, force, or rule of law with it whatsoever.
There is no ‘or else’, and in the final analysis, it is the equivalent of ‘pretty please…’
In other words, this is just a PR stunt on the part of the rabbi, more than likely done in the hopes of it making its way into the Western press as a magic potion of sorts in convincing the Gentiles that the Jews are not thieves and pirates, which they most certainly are.
The biblical commandment/precedent is clear however, and has been used by the Hebrews, Israelites, Judah-ites, Judeans, Jews, whatever we want to call them, over and over again throughout the 3,000 years that they have functioned as a pestilence upon this late, great, planet of the Gentiles, to wit–
‘When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, he will give you a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant…–Book of Deuteronomy’
Jpost
Rabbi Shlomo Aviner has clarified the ethical considerations surrounding whether IDF soldiers are permitted to take spoils during military operations, including in Gaza, emphasizing that ‘individual soldiers’ should not engage in such actions.
According to Aviner, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) may, in principle, decide to take spoils based on its own personal discretion, this must be done within the framework of ‘broader moral considerations’.
This request was an answer to a written question by a young Israeli, through his weekly Q&A column in the Olam Katan magazine, geared towards the Religious Zionist community.
Citing biblical precedents, Aviner referenced the Book of Esther (9:10, 15, 16), highlighting that after their victory, the Jews refrained from taking spoils from their enemies: ‘But on the spoil they laid not their hand.’ This restraint demonstrated that the Jews were primarily motivated by the desire for revenge rather than by any desire for material gain.
Aviner also drew on Abraham’s example from Genesis 14:23, where the patriarch refused to take any spoils after his military success: ‘I will not take from a thread even to a shoelace, and I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’’ This act of integrity showed that Abraham did not want his actions to be seen as motivated by financial gain but rather as stemming from divine support.
Additionally, Aviner discussed the war against Amalek as analyzed in rabbinic sources, including Beit HaLevi in Exodus 17:8-16. While technically permissible to take spoils, the focus should be on ethical principles and ensuring that military actions are not seen as driven by greed.
Moral clarity for the Israeli military
Shlomo Goren, a former Chief Rabbi of Israel and an influential voice on military ethics, similarly explained that during the first battle of Jericho, the Israelites did not take spoils to ensure the war was not perceived as being motivated by a desire for wealth. This perspective, shared by Aviner, highlights the moral clarity that must guide military conduct.
Aviner is a prominent Israeli rabbi, head of the Ateret Yerushalayim Yeshiva, and a leading figure in the Religious Zionist movement. Known for his extensive writings and rulings on Jewish law, he often addresses ethical and moral issues related to Israeli society and military conduct.