Q&A: Taking the Oath in the IDF
Taking the Oath in the IDF
Question
I’m supposed to be sworn in to the IDF today (basic training 02).
The wording of the oath really puts me off. It says you have to carry out every order. What if they give me some awful course? Am I supposed to go along like a puppet and suffer? What if they tell me to stand guard after I haven’t eaten? What if they don’t give me time to pray? And what if an order conflicts with Jewish law? I really don’t want to put myself in that corner. Does making a declaration solve this? What can actually be done? Thanks
Answer
There is no reason at all to take an oath. Make a declaration, and add: “within what is reasonable from my point of view.”
Discussion on Answer
I wrote my view. You can of course disagree, but if you’re asking something, you need to explain what the question is.
Separating oneself from the community is not a relevant factor here. A person should do what he believes is right.
Does the declaration solve the problem above?
Isn’t that addition a kind of separating oneself from the community?