Jewish Peace and Nonviolence

The concept of peace is deeply ingrained in the Jewish legal and ethical system.

According to at least one scholar, Jewish tradition does not recognize the right of personal conscientious objection.

Extending a biblical exemption from military service to Israeli refuseniks.

Deuteronomy's laws of warfare include the requirement that a nation seek a peaceful settlement before engaging in war.

Establishing a new program of Jewish resistance.

The Bible has a number of models for nonviolent resistance.

Deuteronomy 20 permits wars of aggression, but the talmudic rabbis made it difficult to declare one.

An incomplete lifecycle process or an unsuitable attitude may exempt you from service.

Jewish tradition never embraced complete pacifism, though minimizing violence has always been a priority.

In Judaism, peace is not merely the opposite of war, but denotes an ideal state of affairs.