Quote:
Originally Posted by MR2
Kapos.
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Indeed. Unfortunately, that phenomenon isn't new either. The part of the Hanukkah story that unfortunately falls by the wayside is the fact that the Greeks initially weren't really interested in forcibly converting the Jews, all they wanted was their taxes and tributes to be paid on time. They figured that some Jews would assimilate over time. It was the Hellenists, which were Jews who embraced the Greek philosophy and culture, that convinced the king(Antiochus) at the time that by following Torah's commandments, the Jews were in effect rebelling against him. The other part that is often glossed over, is the
armed rebellion which ultimately ensued.
As far as Jewish law is concerned, the right to self-defense is inherent. The idea is that one who chases(
rodef lit. pursuer) after his fellow with the intent to wantonly and unlawfully taking his life has effectually relinquished his own right to life. Miamonides writes[1] that there are three commandments in this regard, 1. To save a person who is being pursued, by either maiming(if one is capable of stopping the pursuer through non-fatal injury then he must choose this route as opposed to killing him) or killing(last resort) his pursuer 2. Not to have mercy on the pursuer 3. Not to stand by idly while a colleague's life is in danger, i.e. ignoring the threat
I'll end with this: "If someone comes to kill you, get up early to kill him first." - Talmud, tractate
Sanhedrin, 72a
[1]
Mishneh Torah,
Sefer Nezikim (lit. Book of Damages - this book deals with civil law with regards to physical and monetary damages), Section 5, Chapter 1, Laws 7 - 15