How Did You React When You Heard About Sinwar?

Usually I analyze and explain human rights related legal developments as they pertain to Israel and the Jewish community. But here I wanted to just share some thoughts about a difficult issue with which many of us may be struggling.

How did you react when you heard the news about Sinwar? There’s been a lot of discussion about whether joy was appropriate. Some say yes, often quoting sources such as Proverbs 11:10 which says the death of the wicked is gladness. Others say no, and they also have texts in the Jewish tradition to cite. A good example is the well-known statement in the Talmud (Megillah 10b) that God did not let the angels sing while the Israelites crossed through the split sea during the Exodus because the Egyptians were drowning.

These texts seek to strike a balance. On the one hand is happiness at justice being fulfilled, that in this case someone who has caused so much death and suffering is finally getting the end he deserves. Also hope that this will deter or prevent more atrocities in the future. On the other hand is an acknowledgement that destruction of the wicked is not God’s desired outcome. Better the wicked should repent, or that we should manage to create a world that does not include wickedness at all, rather than we be forced to kill yet another human who in spite of his evil deeds was still created in the image of God.

Unintended Harm

But there is more to keep in mind. One factor sometimes mentioned is that the military operations that take out enemies often harm innocent people as well. It’s not clear if this was the case with Sinwar, but it certainly was with regard to Nasrallah in Lebanon when the Israeli air force had to use a series of bunker busting bombs in the middle of a residential area to destroy his underground hideout.

To be clear, this is separate from the question of whether this was legal or moral. It may well be that the IDF took all possible precautions not to harm bystanders, and that the unavoidable loss of innocent life was proportionate to the military benefit of killing Nasrallah and his comrades. In that case the attack would conform with international law. But even if legal, the added destruction might still be a reason to dampen our celebration of the attack’s success.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

There is another factor we may need to consider as well. CNN recently ran an article about many Israeli soldiers returning home with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Sometimes this even leads to suicide. On August 14^th, Times of Israel ran a story about how the Israeli defense ministry is currently treating thousands of soldiers for PTSD, and by 2030 expects to be caring for nearly 100,000 injured war veterans, with at least half suffering PTSD.

It's important to understand that even military service that is moral and justified can cause PTSD.  Self-defense and necessity don’t mitigate the horrors of war. Our fragile human psyches thrive in environments of safety and predictability- we are not made to shoot rockets and bullets at one another and then witness the results.

When the IDF succeeds at killing someone like Sinwar, we still must remember that killing harms not only the target, but also the people who carry it out. Whomever we send to defend us by force, in addition to the physical risks they take, may well return bearing injury to their own mind.

To me, this is enough reason not to celebrate. When inflicting violence, even if justified and necessary, we inevitably also do harm to ourselves. I'm not saddened by the death of our enemies, but I am saddened by the widespread destruction often needed to achieve it, and by the psychological and emotional toll that the necessity of killing inflicts on our own soldiers.

Here is one thing that will truly be worth celebrating: Someday soon, please God, peace.