The Gaza War And The Killing Of Non-Combatants In Warfare - Why The Rabbis Are Silent.

כ"ז לחודש התשעי/חנוכה תשע"ג 

"It is clearly forbidden by Torah Law to endanger Israeli soldiers to protect "innocent " Gazans. This lecture by HaRav David Bar-Hayim deals with the reason why Rabbis are not speaking out on this life and death issue. See more videos at Machon Shilo."

The above quote from Machon Shilo, describing the following video says it all.

However, in my opinion, the most significant element of this video is not whether it is permissible to kill "non-combatants" according to halakhah (Jewish Law), but rather the question posed regarding the silence of the rabbis on this, and related matters.

Possible answers to these questions include:

1) The blatant conflict of interest which exists here.  Who is going to criticize a government which pays his salary?

2) The unwillingness to proclaim the truth, due to fear of ostracization, or other such nonsense.

3) The denial of the halakhah, and the attempts to "pilpul" it away, based on the fundamental galuth-based (exile) confusion that Western values and sensibilities equal Jewish (ie. Torah) values and sensibilities.  Leftist or liberal Jews who deny the validity, or even the existence, of such halakhoth could be more accurately identified as Hellenized Jews,...with a nod to our current celebration of Hanukkah.

But, you will have to watch the video to find out what Rav Bar-Hayim's opinion is.