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occurred anyway. The enemy troops were all smitten with blindness. help his brethren who are besieged and to save them from the gentiles #
If so, it seems that the first miracle was superfluous, and it is known on Shabbos, and they are not allowed to delay until after Shabbos. The
that Hakadosh Baruch Hu does not perform miracles for no reason. question arises: Why is every Jew obligated to endanger his life to
Radak answers this question, and explains that Hashem opened the help his besieged brethren? The danger in such a situation is often
lad’s eyes so that he could see horses and chariots of fire to strengthen great. We are forced to conclude that during wartime the halacha is
his heart so that he would not be afraid. Fear and panic are the great- different, perhaps because when it comes to saving all of Israel, every
est dangers of all, and would have endangered the prophet Elisha as person is obligated to endanger himself to do so. This is what the Zair
well. As explained in the Torah (Devarim 20:8): “What man there Zahav writes (in his commentary on Issur V’heter, Hilchos Pikuach
that is fearful and faint-hearted, let him go and return to his house Nefesh #59:21), and Kovetz Shiurim deliberates on this matter as well
lest his brethren’s heart melt like his.” (Vol. 1, Kesubos #9). He brings proof from Queen Esther, who endan-
gered herself when she came uninvited before King Achashveiosh in
The Rambam writes (Hilchos Melachim 7:15) that once a person order to save Am Yisrael.
enters the midst of the war, he should “lean on the spiritual water All of the above applies only if it is reasonable to assume that en-
of Israel and its Savior at a time of distress.” He should know that dangering oneself will lead to saving a Jewish life. If the chances of
the war is for the Oneness of Hashem, and his life is in the palm success are very small, as assessed by the physician in his question, 20818_efi-ab - 20818_park-C_efi-ab | 14 - B | 18-08-20 | 13:46:25 | SR:-- | Magenta
of His hand, and he will not be fearful. He should not think of his then a person endangering himself can be defined as “for the adver- #20818_efi-ab - 20818_park-C_efi-ab | 14 - B | 18-08-20 | 13:46:25 | SR:-- | Yellow 20818_efi-ab - 20818_park-C_efi-ab | 14 - B | 18-08-20 | 13:46:25 | SR:
wife or his children but erase their memory from his heart and turn sary is not worth the harm of the King,” (Esther 7:4) because the act
away from everything other than the war. Whoever begins to think of rescue is likely to lead to the loss of another life.
and contemplate about war and frightens himself, violates a negative This resembles a businessman on the verge of bankruptcy. His
precept of the Torah. As it is written: “Let not your heart melt, do not assets are close to being entirely lost. There is the possibility that
be afraid and do not tremble before them.” Not only that, but the lives investing more money will save the entire factory, with both old and
of Am Yisrael are dependent on him, and if he doesn’t win and did not new merchandise. At times, it is worthwhile to risk the additional
conduct the war with all his heart and soul, it is as if he has spilled money because of the chance that he will thus save it all. However,
blood. As it is written, “And do not melt the heart of your brethren sometimes the chances of saving the business are so small that it
like yours.” It is explained in the Kabbalah: Cursed be he who does would be foolish to add the additional sum and to endanger it too.
the Lord’s work deceitfully and cursed be he who prevents his sword This is what one needs to weigh, logically, when it comes to saving
from blood. Anyone who fights a war with all his heart and without human lives as well.
fear and his intent is to sanctify the Lord alone, is guaranteed that no Even though the example is in regard to assets and we refer here to
harm will come to him and no evil will befall him… and he and his human lives, the truth of the matter is that the two trains of thought
children will merit the World to Come. are the same. In the example, we deal with danger to assets versus the
chance of saving the assets, while when it comes to human lives, we
We must take into account the significance of soldier morale and deal with the danger to one human life versus the chances of saving
the effects of fear. However, as long as it has not been proven that the the lives of other people. Therefore, if from a business viewpoint, it
fear-factor is significant enough to determine the outcome of the war, is not advisable to endanger the additional assets because of small
and that we will lose if every effort is not made to save every soldier, chance of saving all the assets, then it would also not be advisable
396 1 Medical-HalacHic Responsa of Rav ZilbeRstein Saving the wounded when chances are slim 2 393
