What was the Rebbe’s position or opinion regarding going to the Israeli Army?

General population: Regarding the general concept of an individual [not specifically Yeshiva Bochurim] going to the Army, the Rebbe was not opposed to this, and even encouraged or pushed certain individuals to do so. In the Rebbe’s own words to an individual who wrote a letter of complaint to the Rebbe asking why Chabad Chassidim don’t join the IDF, “you have misinformation, as indeed there are many Chabad Chassidim who serve in the Army, and have reached many high ranks, and not just in the army Rabbinate.” On one occasion, the Rebbe instructed an individual from the USA who joined the Israeli Army and then left after a few months without intent to go back, that he is Halachically obligated to follow through with his promise to the Army and return in order to complete his service, as going to the Army is a matter of Pikuach Nefesh and he already made himself obligated to them. The Rebbe emphasized that this matter has nothing to do with Zionism, but rather with protecting the Jewish people and the institution which was established to do so. The Rebbe emphasized that this matter applies even not during times of war, as a very large percentage, if not majority, of the Arab population are terrorists or supporters of terrorism, and it is the presence of the Army which instills fear onto them and helps save the Jewish population from harm. The Rebbe emphasized that the individual is obligated to complete a service even if he gets his superiors to agree to let him go, as it is not within their rights to compromise on a matter that is required according to Torah. In this case, the Rebbe negated the ruling of a different Rav who exempted this individual from returning to the IDF. [I personally, after my marriage, served in the Israeli Army based on a letter of the Rebbe in Igros Kodesh. This is a very lengthy story which I will not elaborate on in this article.] This is aside for the well-known fact, that the Rebbe had close relationships with many Army officials, and encouraged soldiers in the IDF on countless occasions, sending them personal letters, blessings, encouragement, and a convoy of Chassidim to deliver them physical and spiritual sustenance. All this however is with exception to Yeshiva Bochurim [or anyone else who studies Torah full-time] whom by definition are intended to study Torah full-time, day and night, and are specifically not to go to the Army as will be explained next. Likewise, even regarding other individuals who are not Yeshiva Bochurim, the Rebbe writes that there isn’t a personal obligation for them to go to the Army, as the IDF can only draft a certain number of people due to reasons of budget, and based on their health record, and each individual can say that obligation is not on him personally due to the many doubts. [Based on this, perhaps one can argue that during times that the Army explicitly says that they have a lack of soldiers, and especially during times of war, then every individual who is of health and age would be obligated to go, unless he studies Torah full-time. Vetzaruch Iyun.]

Yeshiva Bochurim: Regarding Yeshiva Bochurim [or anyone else who studies Torah full-time], which is the general draft age for compulsory service in the Israeli army, the Rebbe was absolutely opposed to them leaving their study of Torah in order to go to the Army, as is indeed the position of the vast majority of Gedolei Yisrael. The reason for this, the Rebbe voiced is because the study of Torah is a necessary component for the success of the protection of the Jewish people by the Army. No army, as great as it may be, lacks vulnerability to attacks, as we clearly saw on October 7. Every Army needs the help of God in heaven to be successful in securing and protecting its citizens. It is the study of Torah that achieves this divine success and protection, and hence as much as we need a physical Army with soldiers, and Air Force and Navy to help protect the Jewish people living in Israel, we also need individuals to sit and study Torah, to help give them the divine assistance necessary for their endeavors to be successful. This concept is based on an explicit Talmudic statement regarding the wars fought by Yoav, the general of David, that it was due to the joint efforts of both Yoav in battle, and Dovid in Torah study, that helped them be successful in war. One without the other would not work. The Rebbe compares this to the various different positions that are held in an Army, which includes many individuals who do not actually enter into combat and rather sit in offices and arrange logistics, or other matters necessary to support the combat soldiers. Those who sit and study Torah should be viewed as another division of the Army, which is there to help give it the moral and divine support which it needs. Accordingly, yeshiva students are not exempt from supporting the Army, but are simply exempt from the general Army service, as their support is given through the study of Torah.

With that said, it is understood that a yeshiva student who slacks off on his Torah studies, whether in order to go to the Army, and certainly if it is for no reason at all other than laziness, is doing a grave sin, and is likened to a soldier who has fled from the Army and is defined as a fugitive. It is certainly a grave offense for a yeshiva student to waste his time and have fun, instead of studying Torah, and also not go to the Army on the basis that he is a yeshiva student, as why are other soldiers blood any less red than his. [On this note, in my opinion, although I am not a prophet and do not have any proof for this position, it would not be preposterous to ponder that perhaps the entire campaign that is being held against yeshiva students to draft them into the Army in today’s times, is due to a spiritual persecution against them in heaven that they are not using their time wisely enough for Torah study, which is a clear dereliction of duty. A similar concept was brought by our Rabbeim regarding the persecution against the Chassidim in the times of the Gr”a, that spiritually it was due to a lack in the part of the Chassidim, and a dereliction of duty to follow the Chassidic ways and teachings.]

See regarding the Rebbe’s general position about going to the IDF: Heichal Menachem 1:158; Shulchan Menachem 7 p. 102-104; Moreh Ledor Navuch 3 p. 214 See regarding Bochurim in Yeshiva: Sanhedrin 49a; Likkutei Sichos 4 20^th Av p. 86; Toras Menachem 34:233; 50:199; 53:374; 69:153; 5728 Vol. 1 Vav Tishreiy; 5743 2:646; 5744 4:2438; Sichos Kodesh 5732 1 p. 258; 5737 1 p. 182; Igros Kodesh 14:161; 20:318; Besod Siach p. 57, 256; Moreh Ledor Navuch 3 p. 214