He is of the false notion that the State of Israel is a Torah state which runs by Halacha. Sadly, it is not and it never gave itself that mandate. The rabbi is under the illusion that the State of Israel is the beginning of the Redemption and is required to take measures to advance itself and the Jewish people into the messianic era. He believes that the State of Israel has some sort of intrinsic holiness. Sadly, he is wrong on all those accounts, as well. His disappointment and frustration are borne from misunderstanding that the State of Israel is not as much a stage in the ultimate redemptive process, but possibly an obstacle. He wrongly mistakes the Land of Israel which has holiness with the State of Israel which does not. In the Messianic era the State will be eliminated and an entirely different entity will take its place which will be the true vehicle to Torah/Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel. Until then, we have to do the best we can to keep the Jews here Jewish and establish a strong Jewish presence throughout the country.

All right Rabbi, you get the various Yeshiva boys to do their part and serve in the IDF and we will not have a need for non-Jews in the Army. As it stands now the Druze are more loyal and supporting to the Country than Yeshiva students who don't serve in the IDF, don't do National Service, and don't work. But until the Yeshiva students stop shirking their responsibilities the IDF needs to take those it can get.

The Druze and Bedouin who serve in the IDF deserve more respect from people like this Rabbi. Repeal the Tal Law, induct the draft-dodging haredim---that's the proper way to maintain equality.

Why is it that every time Rav Aviner says something that makes Judaism look stupid, it is a lead headline on Ynet? His statements are not covered anywhere else. I can only believe that he has an exclusive deal with Ynet that whenever he feels the need to say something stupid (which is every other month), you have the first right to print it. And, sure enough, right on schedule, here is Rav Aviner, saying his every-60-day narishkeit.

I AM GOING ARUTZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Is he a talmid of Rav Kook and does he have the same ideas about the differences between a "gentile soul" and a "Jewish soul". As if there were different kinds of souls...

then: 1. every single one of the non-Jewish Russian immigrants (Olim under the law of return) serving in the IDF must be released from service. 2. every single one of the Jews with questionable Jewish status (children of converts or converts themselves) must be released from service. 3. every single Circassian, Druze and Beduion must be released from service. and if we do that then we are left with what? may-be a quarter to half of the current standing army? Oh I get it in their place we will draft those ultra-orthodox young men from Jerusalem who have proven they have tremendous stone and dirty diaper throwing aim! To state it clearly this good Rabbi seems to misunderstood a great deal about what makes Israel great!

to remove them from the IDF would be a great mistake! This rabbi should go and visit: the Druze communities of Israel and see for himself how many of their members are great and loyal warriors of the IDF. The service record of the Druze community stands equally shoulder to shoulder with the records of the Jews, non-Jews of Russian origin, Circassians, and beduoin communities. and while we are at it, not for one minute should we forget the service record of SADAL (South Lebanese Army) soldiers who fought together with the IDF. This Rabbi is out of line! p.s. I don't remember him suggesting that Jews all be pulled from the army when a highranking Jewish officer lied about allowing his 14 year old son drive his army vechicle! Really this rabbi is doing a disservice to everyone!

After 30 years of service the man makes a mistake and confesses. Seems to me this happened with another high ranking soldier and his under-age son crashing an IDF vehicle--gee, I think he still has his job and is complaining!

What's the connection? I didn't know that Maimonide talked about the IDF, and I didn't know that IDF was a religious secte

mmm something got lost on the way.

Who needs an army?

the rambam lived in a moslem world in which there could be no jewish army. if he spoke of such a thing, it could only be in the context of the time of the mashiah, and the restoration of the temple and eretz yisrael. if rabbi aviner cites such a ruling, does he also believe that the mashiah has come?

Just yesterday, it was reported that a letter was sent to an officer in the IDF severly criticizing the way he deals with Jews in the West Bank - destroying outposts in response to attacks on Arabs by individuals, for example. The officer in question, of course, was Jewish. The Druze's misconduct involved lying that he was in a car at the time of an accident (not even claiming to be the driver, just present) when he wasn't, and then coming forward on his own and resigning over it. I think before we worry if non-Jews are following the Rambam, we should make sure that Jews are.

IF the Druze or any other citizen wants to serve they have a duty to (my son serves with a Christian Arab in a fighting unit, without any problems). But service in the army MUST include all Jews--particularly those who claim to be so religious that cannot serve. No excuses accepted. That is the scandal in our country,

said the rabbi and my reply to him is that he has desecrated the IDF and the excellent service of our military personnel, especially our non-Jewish ones, and that he ought to have minded his own business and stop thinking that it's necessary to expound on each and every question asked of him. Do we really want an Israel run by rabbinic Judaism? I wonder if Rabbi Aviner ever served in the IDF as a young man> Probably not.

IF this is an halachic army they would have to had destroyed the impure mosque on thwe temple mount as is the halacha in every milchemes mitzvah! Rambam, he says! I ask you!

I disagree with Rav Aviner. I am an Orthodox Jew and all of my sons have served in the army. The Druze are among the best soldiers and officers that we have, and many have given their lives for this country. More than I can say for most of the Chareidim.

Israel is a secular country like the rest of Europe re-established by non-religious inspired people. The unique character of the state based on it's Jewish history and present culture does not warrant an exclusion of gojim in the IDF. I happily served in the IDF in early 1991 while having no Jewish roots or having any religious aspirations. The IDF should represent all of Israel, Jewish and other.

"He is of the false notion that the State of Israel is a Torah state which runs by Halacha. Thank God , it is not and it never will be - Amen. "

This country had imported 1.5 million immigrants from the former Soviet Union, large portion of whom are not Jewish according to the primitive Hallahah (mischlings and the likes) to use as cheap workers and cannon fodder and now they´re saying that non-Jews aren´t good enough to go to the IDF? My Jewish dad and Goya mom will be crying with joy. A bit late tho, I already did my service in the Israeli Navy, thank you very much, and countless like myself and don´t forget all those half-Russian soldiers who got killed in Lebanon and in the territories and later were not permitted to be burried in Israel and their lone mothers had to sell the house to fly their bodies to their country of birth for a proper burial. If not the "Goyim", who will fight then? The Haredim who can´t even take a hike in the woods without getting lost or dehydrated and waste precious resources to get their arses pulled out of there so they could thank God and not the Sayeret Matkal for their rescue??? Go right ahead. Without all the Goyim in the army this country will collapse or the mandatory service will be raised to 6 years instead of 3!

to serve the IDF! You need to be connected to Israel and the citizens of Israel. Go back to your cave, Aviner. We need anyone to secure our safety.

Is Maimonides the only Halachist to discuss the question?

Well of course the idiot is Racist. But what else can you expect from a Rabbi? They spearhead a section of our faith built on lies, deceit and half-truths ... I say kick out all those fairytale Jews ... and lets get back to the way our faith is suppose to be. A Rabbi is a preacher of lies and hate.