Q&A: Judaism and Heroism
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This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Judaism and Heroism
Question
Hello Dr. Michi,
Do you think that, on the level of Jewish law, a Jew is obligated / should know how to defend himself? And included in that, maybe it would be right for every Jew (healthy in body and mind) to learn some kind of martial art? To try to obtain a weapon (legally, of course)?
I have a feeling that Jewish Orthodoxy is averse to the style of a heroic Jew. Is that a mistake? A distortion from exile?
Thank you.
Answer
Why obligated? It is certainly advisable, but there is no obligation. The aversion is a cultural matter, and I don't have much to say about it. I certainly am not averse to it.
Orthodoxy has no problem with heroes. The Hebrew Bible is full of stories of heroism—both spiritual heroism and physical heroism. And the most famous of them all is Samson the mighty, who was created as a kind of example from above.
In my humble opinion, Orthodoxy's problem is when people treat Esau's craft, "By your sword shall you live," as the ideal and the main thing, and make Jacob's craft secondary. One must remember very well that "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau."
And so too in Isaiah: "Do not fear, O worm Jacob"—the children of Jacob are weak like a worm. Just as this worm's strength is in its mouth, so too Israel's strength is in their mouths!!!