Article in The Times of Israel by Andy Blumenthal: Israel and the Jewish people must maintain absolute resolve to defend our people, to be sovereign in the land of Israel, and to safeguard our faith and worship of the one true G-d. In the end, we can be assured that all the terrorist attacks, intifadas, missiles, and Iranian nukes in the world will be no match what-so-ever for the IDF and the almighty hand of G-d.

1. 10/16/22, 8:09 AM Israel, Warrior Nation | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/israel-warrior-nation/ 1/7
THE BLOGS
Andy Blumenthal
Leadership With Heart
Israel, Warrior Nation
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2. 10/16/22, 8:09 AM Israel, Warrior Nation | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/israel-warrior-nation/ 2/7
Source Photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flickr_-_Israel_Defense_Forces_-
_Givati_Recon_Company_at_Training.jpg
In response to an ongoing wave of Palestinian terror attacks this year, Israel has
stepped up preventive raids in the West Bank, arresting terrorists and
confiscating weapons. However, terror groups continue to threaten Israel from
within, and there is even talk of a deadly third intifada. Even worse, looming
over Israel is Iran’s menacing pursuit of nuclear weapons “to destroy Israel and
attack the West.” As concerning as all this is, we need to try to prevent
escalation and continue to seek opportunities for reconciliation and peace. At
the same time, we need to remember that this is a long, ongoing war for our
Jewish homeland and our survival and that we will win.
Recently, I read Israel, A Nation of Warriors by Moshe Katz, a former IDF
infantryman and a seventh-degree black belt in Krav Maga (Israel’s official
martial art). Katz provides a terrific perspective on our history (from Biblical
times to present) as a warrior nation, where, despite almost 2,000 years of
suffering in exile, homelessness, and oppression, our fighting prowess and

3. 10/16/22, 8:09 AM Israel, Warrior Nation | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/israel-warrior-nation/ 3/7
heroic spirit continue unabated. Katz points out numerous keys to our strength
and long-term survival:
Clarity of Purpose
Unlike Russia’s war in Ukraine, where Russian soldiers are unmotivated and see
no real reason to fight on foreign soil, Jews and Israelis have every reason in the
world to defend themselves. For us, it is about the right to exist! It’s literally a
matter of survival: protecting our families, our homes, our Jewish religion and
culture, and our very existence. In every generation, empires and anti-Semites
have risen up against us to try and stop us from worshipping freely; to take our
land; to oppress and kill us; but they keep disappearing from existence while we
are still here, thank God.
As Theodor Herzl envisioned, we fight to be free, to defend ourselves, and to be
sovereign in our own promised homeland. We believe that every person’s life is
sacred and should be protected, and we make sure that everyone comes home
from the battlefield and that prisoners are freed at almost any cost. Overall, we
know and feel our purpose deeply and are motivated to fight and win, as Katz
says:
Preparedness
In the 1973 Yom Kippur War, we were caught by a surprise attack, which G-d
forbid could have resulted in our losing the war, so we have learned the hard
way to always be prepared. That means we must be alert, on guard (“like an
animal in the jungle, always aware of potential predators”). We work to ensure
that we have the very best intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance so as
never to be taken by surprise again. However, as Jews, we don’t just prepare by
relying on military might alone, but rather we equip ourselves with a rock-solid
When we fight, we fight not only for ourselves, but for all those generations
who could not, and for all those future generations who should not. ”
“

4. 10/16/22, 8:09 AM Israel, Warrior Nation | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/israel-warrior-nation/ 4/7
faith in Hashem. Similar to when Amalek attacked our old and weak from
behind in the desert when we left Egyptian bondage, we turn to fight our enemy
valiantly, but also, like Moses, we raise our hands to G-d to beseech Him that we
should prevail. Thus, it’s our combination of physical and spiritual might that
makes us true warriors of Hashem.
Military Skillset
Overall, Katz points out that Israel is an unabashed “gun-packing nation” and
that they are a “people’s army,” where military service is compulsory but also
where there is a deep respect, appreciation, and pride in serving in the IDF. In
Israel, there is a common saying about the importance of military training being
grueling and realistic: “Tough in training, easy in combat.”
Moreover, let me add that Israel spends over 5% of its gross domestic product on
defense (ranking in the world’s top 5), in addition to the $3.8 billion of annual
military assistance that the U.S. provides its good friend and strategic ally. Israel
also utilizes its high-tech industry to provide the best equipment for its
military. Whether flying overhead with their F-35Is, advancing on land in the
Merkava IV tanks, prowling undersea in German Dolphin-class submarines, or
using their multi-tier layers of missile defense (Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and
Arrow 3, and soon to be laser “Iron Beam”), Israel invests in, builds, and
procures weapon systems par excellence. Finally, we won’t say anything about
nuclear weapons or other weapons that can do immense damage. This is called
“deliberate ambiguity.”
Warrior Mindset
Katz really hones in on our warrior mindset in making us successful:

5. 10/16/22, 8:09 AM Israel, Warrior Nation | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/israel-warrior-nation/ 5/7
Stubbornness: As the Bible calls us a stiff-necked people, so too “we refuse to
give up” or give in when it comes to faith in G-d and our survival. Thus, the
insistence that “you will fight until you are dead. You will fight until the end.
This is your best chance of survival.”
Adaptability: We learn to be creative, innovate, and adapt in order to survive.
The military teaches everyone to be a leader, so that if the commander of a
unit is not able to function, the next in line can step in to fill his shoes. Every
soldier is trained “to adapt to whatever the situation may be.”
Teamwork: While there is plenty of self and ego to go around, IDF training
emphasizes working as a team, where everyone is important and contributes
to the mission’s success. So, even as each person is responsible for carrying
out their responsibilities, you also know that you can count on the team!
Risk-Taking: Since Israel and the Jewish people are relatively small,
sometimes we need to take calculated and oversized risks. This is where
Jewish chutzpah comes in and the daring to think of and carry out the
impossible.
Eclectic Style: Katz explains that Krav Maga is “close-quarter combat” self-
defense that combines elements of judo, jujitsu, karate, boxing, and
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6. 10/16/22, 8:09 AM Israel, Warrior Nation | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/israel-warrior-nation/ 6/7
wrestling. Essentially, it is “free-flowing,” so that you use “without
limitations” whatever works to neutralize the enemy as quickly as possible.
Acting Preemptively: Like with the Begin Doctrine to preventively strike
enemies’ weapons of mass destruction capability, as well as the preventive
lightning strike that Israel carried out in the 1967 Six Day War, we do “not
wait to see how things turn out; we take proactive action and make sure
things turn out right.” To do this, we do “not avoid the enemy , hoping he will
go away. but [instead] confront and engage the enemy.”
Attitude of Strength: Last, but not at all least, is attitude. It’s about “strict
discipline, aggressiveness, and a warrior mindset.” This means acting with
confidence, intensity, and toughness, as well as learning to stay calm and
focused, turning fear into brave “purposeful action” to overcome any threat.
In short:
Certainly, after peace with Egypt and Jordan, the Abraham Accords have brought
Israel even closer to some semblance of regional peace. Additionally, the
maritime deal with Lebanon this week has renewed hope for continued
advances in reconciliation and peace with Israel’s neighbors in the Middle East.
At the same time, Israel and the Jewish people must maintain absolute resolve
to defend our people, to be sovereign in the land of Israel, and to safeguard our
faith and worship of the one true G-d. In the end, we can be assured that all the
terrorist attacks, intifadas, missiles, and Iranian nukes in the world will be no
match what-so-ever for the IDF and the almighty hand of G-d.
Weakness leads to war; strength leads to peace.”
“

7. 10/16/22, 8:09 AM Israel, Warrior Nation | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/israel-warrior-nation/ 7/7
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andy Blumenthal is a dynamic, award-winning leader who writes frequently about Jewish life,
culture, and security. All opinions are his own.
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