Parshas Shoftim: When War Numbs Us – Learning to Feel Again

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת שופטים, discussing one's reaction to the constant tragedies in Eretz Yisrael. The Yalkut and Zohar bring a Medrash where Malachaim questioned Hashem why the Torah has more compassion for animal blood than Jewish blood. Hashem's response is alluded to in a Pasuk at the beginning of the Parsha. R' Chatzkel Levenstein encouraged the Bochurim to feel the fear and anguish of their fellow Jews as if the Yeshiva was physically at the battlefields. This lesson of sensitivity is the reason why Eglah Arufa is interposed during the discussion of war to re-sensitize us to the preciousness of one human life even in the midst of battle.