Where in the Torah does it say that military service is forbidden?

Answer 1

Answer 1

The Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) notes the military victories of Israel, under Moses, Joshua, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, King David, etc. It would seem to encourage, rather than forbid military service. However, it is true that there are some people in Israel who do not wish to participate in the military because that would interrupt their religious studies. So, while military service is not religiously forbidden, there are holier activities than military service, for those who wish to be holy.

Answer 2

As Answer 1 notes, the Written Torah encourages military defense of the Land of Israel. If the question is referring specifically to the Orthodox Jews in Israel today and their non-service, most of their arguments come from the Oral Torah and Tradition as opposed to Written Torah. Orthodox Israelis refuse military service for three main reasons:

First, according to most Orthodox Jews, Israel is not a Messianic State and therefore its government is no different to them than that of the USA or UK, except that it happens to control the Land of Israel. As a result, it does not merit the type of defense that a proper Jewish State, like the one discussed in the Written Torah would merit. This often confuses non-Jews and non-religious Jews who hear the term "Jewish State" and do not realize that the "Jewish" in "Jewish State" refers to ethnic and cultural Judaism as opposed to religious Judaism. As a result, Orthodox Jews have no obligation to fight for the state. However, because of the requirement to be holy, as expounded by the Rabbis, they have always felt a need to study Jewish Law and principles, which is a life-long enterprise. As a result, they place study over serving.

Second, Orthodox Jews see the Israeli military as a secularizing entity. They do not want to send their children to the army to have them lose their faith through the peer-pressure of secular Israelis, or to willfully put their children a position where many of them would lose their cultural values and sense of self for short-term gains to the Israeli State.

Third, Orthodox Jews see the physical fight for the defense of any state as being the method by which God arbitrates disputes. It is irrelevant which side is larger or more powerful, because God will grant victory to whomever He chooses. As a result, to the Orthodox, by maintaining the spiritual nature of Israel, they are directing God to protect all of Israel, tipping the balance as it were. This is the reason for Israel's numerous victories, in their view. If the Orthodox were not studying and praying, Israel might not have survived. As much as they do not like the secular nature of Israel, Orthodox Jews respect that Israel is a large Jewish community and needs Divine Protection.