Dear Friends,
Who may bear arms? At what age?
In this highly charged time when our nation is riled over gun violence, and much debate is underway in our public square over gun control, it is fascinating and timely that our Torah portion opens this week addressing who and at what age one is able to bear arms!
In the very beginning of the book of Numbers, Moses is instructed to take a census of the entire Israelite people with the intent of counting how many fighters there may be to defend the community. We read: “You (Moses) and Aaron shall record them by their groups from the age of twenty years up, all those in Israel who are able to bear arms.” (Num. 1:3)
The Torah designated the age of 20 for those of military service and to bear arms. It is arbitrary, and reasonable. And, it is recorded as Torah law.
Most interesting and vital for our current conversations is that Torah set a minimum age for bearing arms. It appears natural and proper for a lawful society to do so. And, it is an historic practice, continuing in our 50 states and in most nations to this day. It is improper for children to be out and about with weapons.
We recall the horror that our United states service members felt when they were in Iraq facing nine-year-old children who confronted them with deadly weapons. Our soldiers were averse to firing upon them because they were only children, yet the moment demanded that our soldiers take proper steps to defend themselves. It was a terrible, ethical and unethical conundrum.
Lawful, civil societies set ages for bearing arms. Torah made it an immediate message in opening the Book of Numbers.
So, too, it is heartening to me amid a most disheartening time, to learn that a bipartisan group of United States Senators is presently working to reach compromises on reasonable gun-control legislation, including concern for background checks, training, mental health considerations and raising the national age for access to arms to 20 or 21 years of age.
Wouldn’t it be nice if our Congress might take a note from the Torah’s wisdom and set such a reasonable expectation?! We can only pray!
With Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
Who may bear arms? At what age?
In this highly charged time when our nation is riled over gun violence, and much debate is underway in our public square over gun control, it is fascinating and timely that our Torah portion opens this week addressing who and at what age one is able to bear arms!
In the very beginning of the book of Numbers, Moses is instructed to take a census of the entire Israelite people with the intent of counting how many fighters there may be to defend the community. We read: “You (Moses) and Aaron shall record them by their groups from the age of twenty years up, all those in Israel who are able to bear arms.” (Num. 1:3)
The Torah designated the age of 20 for those of military service and to bear arms. It is arbitrary, and reasonable. And, it is recorded as Torah law.
Most interesting and vital for our current conversations is that Torah set a minimum age for bearing arms. It appears natural and proper for a lawful society to do so. And, it is an historic practice, continuing in our 50 states and in most nations to this day. It is improper for children to be out and about with weapons.
We recall the horror that our United states service members felt when they were in Iraq facing nine-year-old children who confronted them with deadly weapons. Our soldiers were averse to firing upon them because they were only children, yet the moment demanded that our soldiers take proper steps to defend themselves. It was a terrible, ethical and unethical conundrum.
Lawful, civil societies set ages for bearing arms. Torah made it an immediate message in opening the Book of Numbers.
So, too, it is heartening to me amid a most disheartening time, to learn that a bipartisan group of United States Senators is presently working to reach compromises on reasonable gun-control legislation, including concern for background checks, training, mental health considerations and raising the national age for access to arms to 20 or 21 years of age.
Wouldn’t it be nice if our Congress might take a note from the Torah’s wisdom and set such a reasonable expectation?! We can only pray!
With Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn