War & Peace Quiz
Peace is one of Judaism's most revered concepts. And yet Jewish tradition assumes that war is inevitable. How much do you know about the Jewish ethics and laws of combat?Question 1. According to Deuteronomy, what must an Israelite army do prior to attacking an enemy?
Pray
Offer peace
Offer sacrifices
All of these
Question 2. True or False: Some German Jews fought for the Germans in World War I.
True
False
Question 3. According to Jewish law, when besieging a city the invading army must:
Walk around the city while blowing shofars
Allow the people inside to keep getting the animals they need for animal sacrifices
Leave one side of the city open so people may flee
Be sure to kill everyone inside, including all cattle and livestock
Question 4. What kind of war does the Talmud prohibit?
Nuclear war
War with any nation other than Amalek
War where the casualty rate will be more than one sixth of the population
War where the casualty rate will be more than one tenth of the population
Question 5. Complete this quote from the Talmud: "If someone comes to kill you_________"
Welcome him with open arms
Get up early in the morning to kill him first
Reason with him as best you can
Save yourself by hiding from him
Question 6. The Talmud explicitly prohibits the waging of war in a situation where the casualty rate exceeds what percent of the population?
1/10th
1/7th
1/5th
½
Question 7. True or false: One who is waging an "obligatory war" is still commanded to fulfill all of his daily mitzvot.
True
False
Question 8. Which of the following people was an Israeli prisoner of war in Gaza?
Gilad Shalit
Yonatan Netanyahu
Natan Sharansky
David Broza
Question 9. True or False: According to Jewish law, communal self-defense and personal self-defense are the same thing, with the same rules.
True
False
Question 10. According to the Book of Samuel, the commandment to erase the nation of Amalek extends to
Their cattle
Their camels
Their infants
All of the above