Q&A: The Laws of War
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
The Laws of War
Question
In the Talmud (at the beginning of Berakhot) it appears that before going out to war they would, among other things, consult the Sanhedrin; this implies that Jewish law has something to say about war.
My question is: from where can we learn the laws of war?
Where can we get halakhic guidance on such a major subject?
Answer
That does not mean that Jewish law has something to say. The Sanhedrin reviews that decision according to common sense. Therefore, there are no laws of war being discussed in the Sanhedrin in this context, and there is no need to study them. What guides us here is common sense.
And perhaps the reason no laws appear on the subject of war is that we had no need for this issue throughout the entire exile period (including the Talmudic era). But in truth there are laws. ???