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Israel’s wars reignite Judaism’s oldest argument.

JL;DR SUMMARY Nachum Kaplan's essay explores the enduring ethical tension within Judaism between power and morality, particularly in the context of Israel's conflicts with groups like Hamas. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Jewish HistoryZionismKing DavidJewish EthicsIsrael Defense ForcesJewish PowerHamas ConflictTohar HaneshekMoral ParadoxSelf Restraint

Places mentioned

Israel
"Disagreement among Jews about when the war against Hamas in Gaza should have ended has been a fascinating study in Jewish ethics and conscience."
Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv District, Israel
"That commandment is as binding in Tel Aviv as it was in Sinai."

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Retrieved 2025-12-05 05:31:00 UTC
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