Monday, August 8, 2016

Shabbos 63: Weapons And World Order

לזכות ר' נח בן חי' ליבא לבריאות השלימה


לא יצא האיש לא בסיף, ולא בקשת, ולא בתריס, ולא באלה, ולא ברמח.

ואם יצא, חייב חטאת.

רבי אליעזר אומר, תכשיטין הן לו.

וחכמים אומרים אינן אלא לגנאי, שנאמר (ישעיה ב) וכתתו חרבותם לאתים וחניתותיהם למזמרות, לא ישא גוי אל גוי חרב ולא ילמדו עוד מלחמה.



MISHNAH. A MAN MUST NOT GO OUT WITH A SWORD, BOW, SHIELD, LANCE, OR SPEAR; AND IF HE DOES GO OUT, HE INCURS A SIN-OFFERING. R. ELIEZER SAID: THEY ARE ORNAMENTS FOR HIM. BUT THE SAGES MAINTAIN, THEY ARE MERELY SHAMEFUL, FOR IT IS SAID, AND THEY SHALL BEAT THEIR SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES, AND THEIR SPEARS INTO PRUNING HOOKS: NATION SHALL NOT LIFT UP SWORD AGAINST NATION, NEITHER SHALL THEY LEARN WAR ANY MORE.

What is at the root of this dispute?

Explains the Rav: 

R' Eliezer holds that power is a positive attribute and an ornament. The strength of life is good and pleasant and is naturally connected to a powerful soul which comes together with purity and honesty. Therefore, those external expressions of power [weapons] are an ornament.  

The Chachomim argue and maintain that weapons are shameful. Power and strength may be admirable attributes, but the way they have been used throughout history is shameful. They represent more the corruption of man than his glory and therefore they are disgraceful and thus muktzeh.  

It was taught: Said they [the Sages] to R. Eliezer: Since they are ornaments for him, why should they cease in the days of the Moshiach? Because they will not be required, he answered, as it is said, nation shall not lift up sword against nation. 

It is very important to have a world filled with different nations and powers. Every group and culture contributes its unique talents and character to the majestic global scheme. This contrast between nations often generates conflict and it is therefore necessary to maintain a military in order to keep other countries and powers at bay. 

However when Moshiach comes this will no longer be necessary. The world will FINALLY consist of the UNITED NATIONS, not the fake one that is housed in lower Manhattan but genuine peace and brotherhood among man. Therefore, at such a time, weapons and shows of military might will be superfluous. 

Yet let them exist merely as ornaments? — Said Abaye. It may be compared to a candle at noon.

There could be an intermediate stage where nations would not actually use their weapons but would nevertheless have them as a deterrents in order to maintain order and justice. This would give them the status as ornaments. 

However, when we reach that time for which we all yearn when peace and Hashem's kingdom reign, even weapons as deterrents will not be necessary. Hence, they will not even be ornaments [i.e. used as deterrents to maintain peace].