Rabbi Yuval Sherlo Urges Inquiry Committee to Focus on Future Preparedness After October Massacre

Rabbi Yuval Sherlo, head of the Ethics Center at the Tzohar Rabbis Organization, emphasized a singular guiding question for the inquiry committee investigating the October massacre: how to prepare for future attacks. Speaking in a series of interviews about the committee's mandate, Sherlo argued that the committee should avoid becoming a forum for political blame or personal accountability. Instead, its focus must be forward-looking, learning from past failures only insofar as they inform future defense strategies.

Sherlo warned against preparing for the next conflict based on the previous one, citing the example of Israel's misaligned preparations in the Lebanon War following the Yom Kippur War. He stressed that the main threat in future conflicts will center on missiles and drones, and that efforts should concentrate on understanding the nature of upcoming warfare rather than rehashing operational failures such as border surveillance or air force deployment.

When asked about concerns that such an approach might let officials evade responsibility, Sherlo acknowledged the risk but noted that past inquiry committees focused on personal blame did not advance national preparedness. He suggested the possibility of establishing two committees: one to review past events and another to focus on future readiness, with the latter being the priority.

Sherlo also reflected on Israeli society's tendency to prefer retrospective blame, warning that a delayed inquiry might devolve into a punitive exercise rather than constructive reform. His perspective is rooted in a broader spiritual philosophy emphasizing repentance and improvement aimed at future betterment rather than dwelling on past mistakes.

This interview is part of a series examining unresolved questions from the October massacre, with previous contributions addressing intelligence failures, accountability, and the challenges of truth and reconciliation.