27 Feb EXPLORING THE DEPTHS OF SOLDIERS’ FEAR IN WAR

Soldiers in war zones
face a myriad of
challenges that evoke
deep existential fear.
The constant

exposure to life-
threatening situations,

where survival is uncertain, is a primary
source of this fear. Combat stress compounds
this, inundating soldiers with the
overwhelming sights, sounds, and chaos of
battle. Witnessing suffering, the fear of
injury or death, and the loss of comrades all
contribute to intense emotional distress.
Moreover, soldiers often experience
traumatic events that leave lasting
psychological scars. Whether it’s the loss of
friends, civilians, or innocent lives, these
experiences deepen the sense of fear and
anxiety. In the midst of war, soldiers often
find themselves in situations where they
have little control, such as being outnumbered
or unable to predict enemy movements. This
powerlessness and uncertainty heighten
feelings of vulnerability.
The moral and ethical dilemmas of war add
another layer of fear. Soldiers may grapple
with following orders that conflict with their
values or witnessing atrocities committed by
their own or enemy forces. These moral
quandaries induce feelings of guilt, shame,
and existential dread.
The unpredictability of war zones contributes
significantly to fear. From ambushes to
improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the
fear of the unknown lurks in every corner.
This pervasive sense of anxiety is further
compounded by the possibility of facing
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
PTSD, with its intrusive memories,
nightmares, and hyper vigilance, can amplify
fear and lead to long-term psychological
distress.
Indeed, the Torah acknowledges these fears
and recognizes that there are two types of
people: those who can overcome their fears
and are therefore guided by the Torah on
how to do so, and those who cannot
overcome their fear. Thus, they are excused
and forbidden from joining the war.
The Gemara(ב ,מד סוטה (explains that one
can assess whether they are equipped to fight
a war by observing their reactions during
confrontations. If they find themselves
trembling from fear or experiencing
accidents, then they know they shouldn’t
fight in the war. Such a person isn’t
completely excused to go home, as they are
still obligated to assist the fighters by
delivering food and preparing the roads for
. (סוטה מד, א)needed as battle

The Torah Commandment.
Although overcoming feelings of fear is
extremely challenging, it remains a Torah
obligation for those who are able to do so, as
ִּּכ ּ י ֵּתֵצֵא ַל ּ ִַּמְלְָחָָמָה ְוְגו‘… ֹלא ִתִיָרָ א” :states Torah the
.( ֵֵמֶהֶם“ )דברים כ,א
One may still ask how is it possible to
overcome fear when a soldier is in battle,
experiencing extreme conditions and scenes.
The answer to this dilemma is found in the
Torah, where one must strengthen their
belief in Hashem at that moment. This belief
and trust will pave the way for victory
through Hashem’s assistance.
further) שערי תשובה פ״ג אות לג) Yona Rabbenu
elaborates on this concept :”This pasuk
instructs us not to fear even when
encountering formidable adversaries. It
serves as a reminder that when facing
adversity, one must internalize the belief in
divine salvation and place trust in it. As it
says in Tehilim (י ,פט(:” His salvation is near
those who fear Him,” emphasizing the
proximity of divine deliverance to those who
hold reverence for Him. Similarly,
Yeshayahu (יב ,נא (poses the question, “What
scares you that you fear man who must die,”
challenging the notion of fearing mortal
beings rather than placing trust in the eternal
power of Hashem.”
The obligation to not fear is emphasized to
the soldiers before going to war by the priest
called Meshuach Milchama. He gathers the
people and declares to those with soft hearts
to leave the battlefield, as the verse states:
“The officials shall go on addressing the
troops and say, ‘Is there anyone afraid and
disheartened? Let him go back to his home,
lest his fear infect his comrades, causing
their courage to falter like his”.
(‘הלכות מלכים פרק ז‘ הלכה ג)Rambam The
says: When the armies assume battle
positions and will shortly join in war, the
Meshuach Milchamah stands in an elevated
place before the array of the entire army. He
addresses them in Hebrew: “Listen, Israel,
today you are about to wage war against
your enemies. Do not be faint-hearted. Do
not be afraid. Do not panic and do not break
ranks before them. Hashem, your God, is the
One accompanying you to do battle for you
against your enemies to deliver you
.(דברים כ, ג-ד) “[victory[
Afterwards, another priest of a lower rank
proclaims them to the people in a loud voice.
The officer announces on his own initiative:
‘Is there a man who is afraid or faint-hearted?
Let him go home…’
Those announcements are meant to separate
the brave soldiers from those who are weak

at heart and aren’t able to
face a sword without fear.
Those who are naturally
fearful cannot join the force,
as they would not benefit the
battle but rather cause defeat.
If these individuals decide to
stay and fight, they aren’t
allowed on the battlefield to
retreat, because this will
cause others to feel scared as
well, leading to a downfall
for the entire army.
The Rambam states(הלכות
individuals these After “:’) מלכים פרק ז‘ הלכה ד
(the weak) depart from the battlefront, the
army is arrayed again and commanding
officers are appointed at the head of the
nation. Powerful officers with iron axes in
their hands are placed in the rear of each
array of troops. If a person wants to leave the
battle, they have permission to chop off his
legs, for flight is the beginning of defeat.”
Rashi as well emphasizes that very
. (דברים כ, ט)point
There are also various other distracting
things that a soldier might have on his mind,
such as a person who just married a new
wife, built a new house, or opened a new
business. These distractions can cause him
not to focus on the war, thus leading to
. ( חזקוני כ, ח. וספורנו כ, ה וכן בגור אריה)defeat
The Torah recognizes these feelings and
obligates him to leave the battlefield.
Managing Fear: Dealing with Soldiers
Who Are Scared.
Since there are indeed many things to be
afraid of, if the soldiers were to start thinking
about all those things, they would become
frightened and wouldn’t be able to fight the
war and emerge victorious. Therefore, they
are commanded to remove all personal
thoughts from their minds and concentrate
solely on the battlefield.
:writes) שופטים סימן ז‘ הלכה טז)Rambam The
“Once a soldier enters the throes of battle, he
should rely on the Savior of Israel in times of
need. He should realize that he is fighting for
the sake of Hashem’s Name. Therefore, he
should place his soul in his hand and not
show fright or fear.
He should not worry about his wife or
children. On the contrary, he should wipe
their memory from his heart, removing all
thoughts from his mind except the war.
Anyone who begins to feel anxious and
worry in the midst of battle to the point
where he frightens himself violates a
negative commandment, as it is written

(ג ,כ דברים (:’ Do not be faint-hearted. Do not
be afraid. Do not panic and do not break
ranks before them.’
Furthermore, he is responsible for the blood
of the entire Jewish nation. If he is not
valiant, if he does not wage war with all his
heart and soul, it is considered as if he shed
the blood of the entire people…
In contrast, anyone who fights with his entire
heart, without fear, with the intention of
sanctifying Hashem’s name alone, can be
assured that he will find no harm, nor will
bad overtake him. He will be granted a
proper family and gather merit for himself
and his children forever. He will also merit
eternal life in the world to come”.
Tactics of War.
Another concept that the Torah reveals to us
is that often the enemy, in reality, is weak but
employs various methods to instill fear in us.
These tactics include the use of loud sounds,
displays of strength, threats, and warnings.
Thus, the Torah advises us not to be alarmed
by these empty threat methods.
The Torah states: “Let not your heart faint;
fear not, nor be alarmed, and do not be
terrified of them” (ג ,כ דברים(. Rashi explains
that the enemy employs four forms of
psychological warfare, and the verse offers
reassurance not to succumb to fear:
– “Let not your heart faint” in response to the
neighing of horses and the sharpening of the
enemy’s swords.
– “Fear not” in reaction to the clashing of
shields and the noise of their boots.
– “Nor be alarmed” by the sound of trumpets.
– “Do not be terrified” in the face of the
enemy’s shouts.
Since much of that fear is not genuine but
rather a tactic to intimidate us, knowing that
fear and retreat are the pathways to defeat.
Once we understand that much of what the
enemy does is empty threats meant to instill
fear in us, we can overcome it much easier
since we’ll understand their tactics.