Rabbi Yehuda Finchas

Albert is a first responder. He is on call three times a week, ready to jump to the rescue and save people’s lives. He loves his volunteer work and has saved many lives over the years. Albert presented me with the following dilemma: “Rabbi, is there any obligation to rescue people who willingly enter into dangerous situations? Am I responsible to help people who act in a reckless fashion, given that they are not willing to help themselves? And what about Shabbat? I know I’m obligated to desecrate Shabbat to save someone’s life, but does this apply even when someone deliberately endangers themselves?”

Torah Sources

The source of the Torah obligation to take action to save another person’s endangered life is the pasuk, “You shall not stand idly by the blood of another (Vayikra 19:16).” So to rephrase Albert’s question in terms of the pasuk, the question becomes:  Does this mitzva still apply when a person willingly endangers their life?

There is an additional source that one must act to save a fellow man’s endangered  life. The Gemara (Sanhedrin 73a) reasons that if we are obligated to perform hashavat aveda – to return lost property to its rightful owner, all the more so we are obligated to “return” a fellow man’s most precious possession, namely his life itself.

Picking up on this second source, the Minhat Hinuch (237:1) argues that there is no obligation to save the life of a person who deliberately threatened his wellbeing by behaving in a reckless and dangerous manner.  Since the halacha clearly states that one is not required to return lost property that was deliberately lost by its owner (HM 261:4), by extension one need not return the possession of life that was deliberately endangered by its “owner.”

Hacham Ovadia’s Ruling

Hacham Ovadia, zt”l, (Yabia Omer, OC 8:37) however, disagrees. He argues that there is a fundamental distinction between saving lost property and saving an endangered life. Whereas a person is the owner of his monetary possessions, he is not the “owner” of his life. While a person has the right to do as he pleases with his own money, he does not have the right to act recklessly and deliberately risk his life. As the Radbaz (Commentary to the Rambam, Sanhedrin 18:6) writes, “A person’s neshama it not his personal property, it’s the property of Hakadosh Baruch Hu, as the pasuk states, ‘The nefashot belong to Me’ (Yehezkel 18:4).” Therefore, even when a person acts recklessly and disregards his own life – one remains fully responsible to the Divine owner and is still obligated to save him. 

(Although we do not have the right to needlessly endanger our lives, we have explained elsewhere that it is sometimes permitted to entertain a small risk in order to obtain a meaningful positive outcome. For example, to donate a kidney or to undergo elective plastic surgery.)

Hacham Ovadia goes further, insisting that one even desecrate Shabbat to save the life of a person who has acted recklessly. This follows Maran Hida (Birke Yosef, OC 301:6), who writes, “It is obvious that we desecrate Shabbat even for someone who deliberately endangered their life.”  They reject the ruling of Responsa Shevut Yaakov (1:16) that one may not desecrate Shabbat in such instances.  

Hacham Ovadia’s ruling underscores how Judaism views every human life as precious and invaluable. “Whoever saves a single life is considered as if they saved an entire world (Sanhedrin 4:5).” “Guard yourself and exceedingly safeguard your soul (Devarim 4:9)” – do your utmost  to preserve and protect human life (see Brachot 32b). 

In light of the above, the answer to Albert’s question is that the mitzvah to save human life applies, even to someone willingly endangers their life, and even on Shabbat.

Rabbi Yehuda Finchas is a worldwide expert, lecturer, and author on Medical Halacha. He heads the Torat Habayit Medical Halacha Institute. His latest book is “Brain Death in Halacha and the Tower of Babel Syndrome.” To contact Rabbi Finchas, email rabbi@torathabayit.com.

Sam Sutton

The 2024 M&S Summer Softball season will forever be remembered as the year rookie captain Edmund “The Phenom” Beyda led his team, IDF, to a stunning World Series championship. From the first pitch in May, Beyda’s vision was clear: assemble a team that shared his intensity, passion, and desire to win the M&S Cup. The result was one of the most incredible runs in the league’s storied 17-year history.

Building the Roster

Beyda meticulously crafted his roster to mirror his competitive spirit. From speedy outfielders to hard-hitting sluggers and defensive stalwarts, each player fit into the grand design. In left field, the lightning-fast and tenacious Isaac Sasson patrolled the grass, while rising star David Buca Cohen locked down center field with his athleticism and range. The heart of the lineup revolved around slugger Bernie Pindek, whose power gave IDF a constant threat in the middle of the order.

At third base, Eric Cytryn, known for his clutch hitting and slick defense, anchored the hot corner and brought championship experience, having won the title in the previous season. Meanwhile, Yossi Abramson, a proven winner and a consistent force in right field, rounded out the outfield with his sure glove and veteran leadership.

In the infield, the soft-spoken yet impactful Joey “JoeCo” Cohen made the switch from shortstop to second base, instantly elevating the defense. His smooth fielding and quick throws complemented the infield perfectly. Longtime league veteran and future Hall of Famer Maurice Haber was the glue at first base, his steady presence on and off the field unifying the team. Jack Rueben Bibi, a versatile utility player, contributed invaluable perspective in the locker room, helping to maintain a calm and focused environment, while filling in wherever needed.

Behind the plate, Alfonse Missry was the heartbeat of the team, a gold glove-caliber catcher whose fiery personality injected energy into the dugout. Midseason acquisition Ricky “The Railroad” Rothstein was another rambunctious addition who made an immediate impact, especially in the postseason. Finally, the slick-fielding, clutch-hitting shortstop Mordy Chrem solidified the left side of the infield, rounding out what was, on paper, a championship-caliber roster.

A Humbling Regular Season and the Wild Card Push

Despite the talent on the roster, the regular season presented challenges. After a hot start, IDF hit a bump in the final week of the regular season, suffering a devastating loss that pushed them into the Wild Card round. That defeat was a humbling experience, but it also ignited the fire that would fuel their historic playoff run.

The Wild Card round was a test of resilience. Following a series of play-in games that determined the final postseason matchups, IDF was set to face the Bleacher Creatures. The stakes were high, but Beyda’s squad was not fazed. In fact, they dominated, winning in a blowout, 14-3, as their offense exploded and their defense held firm. It was a statement victory, and it sent a clear message to the rest of the league: IDF was not going to go down easily.

A Thrilling Semi-Final Battle

The semi-finals featured one of the most thrilling series in M&S history, as IDF took on the top-seeded Sarah’s Kibbes team. This was no ordinary matchup – Sarah’s Kibbes had been dominant all season, and many expected them to cruise to the finals. But IDF, having regained its confidence, was ready for the challenge.

Game One saw both teams trading blows in a back-and-forth contest, but it was Game Two that cemented this series as one for the ages. In a gut-wrenching 13-inning marathon, IDF emerged victorious, sealing the series and punching their ticket to the World Series. It was a battle of wills, and Beyda’s leadership and his team’s resilience shone through. The young captain was now back where he had set his sights all season: the World Series.

The World Series: A Matchup for the Ages

In the final showdown, IDF faced off against the Predators, captained by the legendary Michael Sabon Salomon and featuring MVP favorite Mark Barsano. This was no ordinary matchup – the Predators also had Hall of Famer Allie Marshal and last year’s World Series-winning pitcher, Yitz Sutton, on their side. Sutton had already made history by pitching the only known perfect game in World Series history, and he was looking to repeat the feat as champion.

Game One saw the Predators jump out to an early 3-0 lead, but IDF, as they had all season, refused to back down. Ricky “The Railroad” Rothstein delivered a pivotal triple into the left-field gap, setting the stage for IDF to get on the board. A sacrifice fly brought in their first run, and the momentum shifted. Cytryn drove in another run in the fifth inning, and Joey “JoeCo” Cohen added a clutch two-RBI base hit, giving IDF the lead.

The Predators had a chance to tie the game in the seventh inning with runners on second and third and nobody out. A sacrifice fly appeared to score the tying run, but the celebration was short-lived as the umpires convened and ruled that the runner had left third base early. IDF held on to steal Game 1, and suddenly, the Predators were on the ropes.

Game 2: The Championship Moment

In Game Two, IDF came out firing, building an early 4-0 lead. The Predators, however, were not ready to fold. They chipped away, cutting the lead in half by the sixth inning, setting up another dramatic finish. With two outs in the seventh, the Predators loaded the bases, bringing up their best hitter, Mark “Bam” Barsano. In a moment that would define the series, Barsano smoked a ball to third base, but Eric Cytryn – whose defense had been stellar all season – made an incredible behind-the-head catch and quickly tagged out Alan Jemal to end the game and the series.

The improbable run was complete. Edmund Beyda, in just his first year as captain, had led his team to a World Series title. It was Beyda’s second M&S Cup as a player, but this one, as captain, meant so much more.

The Legacy of the 2024 IDF Team

The IDF’s victory in the 2024 M&S World Series was not just about winning a title. It was about perseverance, resilience, and believing in a team when others doubted them. Beyda’s leadership, the clutch performances from players like Rothstein and Cytryn, and the steady presence of veterans like Haber and Bibi, created a championship-caliber atmosphere that carried them through the toughest moments.

As the dust settled on the field and the IDF players celebrated into the night, it became clear that this team had etched its name into M&S history. The 2024 season was a testament to the power of determination, teamwork, and a captain who refused to let his dream slip away.

The 17th season of M&S concluded with one of the most unforgettable championship runs ever, and the next chapter is eagerly awaited. For now, though, the IDF can bask in the glory of being the 2024 M&S World Series champions.

By Tuvia Cohen 

If this describes you, please don’t feel offended… 

One of the most popular words in the expressive Yiddish language is the word “nudnik.” Even more popular than the word are the examples of the word. One classic nudnik is someone who, when innocently asked, “How are you?” spends the next half-hour telling you. Another species of nudnik is someone who calls you at 2am and asks, “Did I wake you?” Another favorite question from this rare breed is: “Why is it that the hallah knife can cut through the hallah, but hallah can never cut through the knife?”

In truth, although this type of question drives people crazy, it is quite legitimate. If you never observe simple phenomena, you will never discern wisdom and design in creation. Similarly, if you do not have the type of mind that asks irritating questions, you will never invent anything. 

Many inventions appear so simple that we take them for granted. For example, before there were zippers, buttons, or other fasteners, people fastened their clothes with large pins. But pins caused problems. Their sharp points were dangerous, and could easily slip out and cause injury. The solution? Go and invent something! 

An Innovative Inventor

Listen to an interesting story. Walter Hunt was an American who thought up many inventions, which he usually patented. Since a patent application normally included drawings, and Mr. Hunt could not draw, he had to employ the services of an artist, to whom he was usually in debt. The artist agreed to wipe out the debts if Walter Hunt would give him sole rights to whatever he could make out of a length of old wire. Hunt came up with the safety pin, and the artist became a rich man!

Inventions may seem simple, once they have been invented. But analyze any invention that you like, from a safety pin to a zipper (first patented in 1893), and perforce you will admit that without a great deal of inquisitiveness coupled with intelligence, that invention would never have seen the light of day.

Problem Solver

In that case, you will appreciate the following problem. Sometimes you need to hang a picture on the wall, and you cannot find the hammer, let alone nails, and your neighbor borrowed the ladder, and naturally, failed to return it. Could you please invent a method whereby you can climb up the wall without a ladder, grip the wall securely with your feet, and bang a hole into the wall with your nose? You will react with disbelief, and quite rightly so. I can understand that wood can be fashioned into a ladder, and metal into a drill, but that you should be able to transform yourself into both a flying creature and a human drill simultaneously, sounds like something from science fiction. Is such a thing possible?

Not only is this possible, but it is so common that, like the humble safety pin, it is almost taken for granted. 

Knock, Knock 

Enter the woodpecker…

Woodpeckers are the only creatures that spend most of their waking hours banging their heads against wood. They do this because of the role that they have been given in the animal world, gleaning insects from under the bark of trees. They have the rare distinction of being the only living things able to locate and eradicate these insect hordes. 

The woodpecker deserves our respect for its vital role. It is tremendously important to the woodland economy, for it strips dead trees of their bark and prevents the spread of carpenter-ant colonies to sound trees nearby. Woodpeckers can be unbelievably efficient: a large woodpecker once removed 30 feet of bark in less than 15 minutes. And its appetite matches its efficiency. Examination of the stomach contents of one bird revealed 2,600 carpenter ants!

Divine Design

Every part of the woodpecker’s body is directed toward the sole object of hewing wood. Its legs are short and powerful, and they grasp the bark with a unique arrangement of sharply pointed toes – two toes point forward, two backward, forming a gripping pair of tongs on each foot. So there you have it – if you want to climb the wall without a ladder, just tell your body to please comply and grow a pair of wings, and then to rearrange its toes in the manner described. If the woodpecker can do it, why can’t you?! 

The woodpecker’s tail sits firmly against the tree trunk, acting as a brace, propping and steadying the bird as it delivers jackhammer blows with its bill. The middle pair of those tail feathers is unusually strong, and remarkably, these feathers, which are the main props, do not fall out during molting until all the other tail feathers have been replaced and can support the weight of the bird. You really do not have to look hard for evidence of design in anything; you just have to open your eyes – it’s right there for you to see.

Slamming Your Head Against a Wall

And now for the biggest problem of all. Try to slam your head against an unyielding wall. Once will give you a headache, twice a migraine, three times a severe concussion. How about banging your head against the wall at the rate of 100 times a minute? How would you protect your brain from irreparable damage? Woodpeckers do this without any problem. You will never find woodpeckers with concussions lying dazed at the foot of the tree, nor have there ever been any like that, for the little bird is perfectly equipped for slamming its head against wood without any injury whatsoever.

The beak is straight, very hard, and pointed. The skull that drives it is unusually thick and is moved by powerful neck muscles. But that’s not even the amazing part. The bones between the beak and skull are not rigidly joined, as they are in most other birds. Instead, the connective tissue is spongy and elastic, serving as a shock absorber. When you bear in mind that shock absorbers were not introduced into moving vehicles until well into the 20th century, it becomes apparent that a system of shock absorbers built into the head is anything but simple. 

Master Builder and Engineer

The woodpecker wonders don’t end there. The woodpecker’s ability to locate insects is uncanny, and for this it has been endowed with an acute sense of hearing. 

After the bird taps on the trunk, it pauses a moment, waiting to hear whether the tapping has disturbed any insects hidden inside. Once a bird has found a place where the sound indicates that further investigation is necessary, its taps become sharper. Then, as it zeroes in on the insects, the bark begins to fly. 

Woodpeckers have an exceptional skill for gauging the strength of the wood in which they find their feast, and in which they nest. More than half the weight of the tree trunk may be above their excavation, yet they dig the hole in such a way that it does not place a strain on the tree. 

Rain and wind are kept out of the woodpecker’s nest by drilling the entry passage upward before turning downward to hollow out the long, vertical nesting cavity. Who taught them these advanced building and engineering skills?

Talented Tongue

Of all the tools in its small body, the woodpecker’s tongue is the most remarkable. It is very long – in some cases four times as long as the beak – and can be flicked in and out like a snake’s. 

The tongue is pliable and dexterous, and can wind itself around the curves and bends of the insect galleries. Examine its tongue closely and you will see that it is pointed and has barbs on the tip like little fishhooks. It is used to impale grubs and pull them out of their galleries. 

The tip of the tongue is coated with a sticky substance that the woodpecker uses as bait to catch ants. The ants rush forward to attack what appears to be a worm climbing into their nest, and there they remain, stuck to the hungry woodpecker’s tongue. 

One species of woodpecker has an especially unique way of obtaining its food. It drills a series of small holes close together into the bark of trees, and licks the fountains of sap. The fountains also attract insects, which are then added to the diet without the necessity of drilling for them. 

Because of their wondrous equipment, woodpeckers can dig out insects both in winter and summer. Consequently, their migrations are of limited range. Many survive the winter by living on acorns and nuts that they have stored. 

Nudniks Are Welcome

Never be afraid of being described as a nudnik. If you don’t observe, and you don’t ask unusual questions, your mind will remain so closed to the wonders of the Creator that fill the universe that not even the woodpecker will be able to open it.

Walter Hunt 

Walter Hunt was one of the most prolific inventors in American history. His inventions include the safety pin, the sewing machine, the fountain pen, ice breakers for ships, repeating rifles, nail making machines, safety lamps, and many others. So why doesn’t every person know his name? Unfortunately, every time he had a stroke of inventing genius, he sold it to pay off debts or simply to provide food and shelter for his family.  

Drumming Detectives

The woodpecker’s ability to locate insects is uncanny. After the bird taps on the trunk, it pauses a moment, waiting to hear whether the tapping has disturbed any insects hidden inside. Once a bird has found a place where the sound indicates that further investigation is necessary, its taps become sharper. Then, as it zeroes in on the insects, the bark begins to fly.

Divine Design

The woodpecker’s tongue can be four times as long as its beak. The tongue is pliable and dexterous, and is able to wind itself around the curves and bends of the insect galleries. In addition, the tip of the tongue is coated with a sticky substance. It uses its sticky tongue as bait to catch ants. The ants rush forward to attack what appears to be a worm climbing into their nest, and there they remain, stuck to the hungry woodpecker’s tongue.

DAVE GORDON

“We are fighting a just war, with just means,” thundered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the podium of his September 4th Jerusalem press conference. He has repeated this proclamation throughout the past twelve months of war with Hamas, everywhere from his media appearances to his July 24th address to U.S. Congress to his September 24th presentation at the United Nations.

Civilian Casualties

The war, Netanyahu insists, has “the lowest ratio of non-combatants to combatant deaths in urban warfare history.” He added, “We have taken efforts that no other military has taken.” Netanyahu also said Israel has provided Gazans a million tons of aid, 700,000 tons of food, medical aid, and water, among other necessities. 

Critics accuse Israel that this war has a had disproportionate number of casualties, and Israel has used excessive force, indiscriminate bombing, and has conducted a campaign to starve the people of Gaza. 

An Expert Weighs In

John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, investigated these matters thoroughly. He determined Israel is in the right. 

Spencer was embedded with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza three times, last December, February, and July 2024, to “explore the campaign and operation against Hamas from multiple angles, with political and military arms.” Spencer interviewed the prime minister, the military chief of staff, division commanders, brigade commanders, battalion commanders, “all the way down to soldiers in the field.”

“I believe in not just looking at the data everybody else has, but I have a research methodology of walking the ground, observing, asking the hard questions,” said  the foremost expert in urban warfare.

“You really don’t understand the complexity of what the IDF had to face until you see the dense urban terrain. You’re walking on top of hundreds of miles of tunnels. You have a war of this scale, in a context that no military has faced in modern history.”

Spencer’s U.S. Army career spans over 25 years, including  serving two tours in Iraq as infantry platoon leader and company commander. Today, he serves as a colonel in the California State Guard as Director of Urban Warfare Training. There, he co-created and instructs the only existing course designed to improve the ability of commanders and staff to coordinate large-scale urban operations. He has advised four-star generals and Pentagon officials and has written two books.

Mitigating Harm

Throughout his Gaza investigations, Spencer observed clear and consistent following of legal requirements, and what is militarily referred to as “civilian harm mitigation steps.” These included evacuating civilians from certain areas by handing out maps of safe areas, real time population tracking methods, and warning shots on roofs. “Harm mitigation at a level that nobody’s ever tried,” he said of the IDF. “It’s been a unique eye opening experience.” 

“Of course, militaries have soldiers that do things that are wrong,” Spencer commented. But Israel has a system to hold wrongdoers accountable and to investigate problems that arise. 

“If Israel was trying to conduct civilian harm there, nothing shows that. Not [seen with] my on-hand research, or the numbers. Very few people have the understanding of everything that’s come before every large-scale military operation, against a defending an urban enemy.” If Israel was not following the rules of war, Spencer concludes, “Gaza would look a lot worse than it does now.”

Other military investigations, including those led by Col. Richard Kemp (a highly-decorated retired British Army officer and head of the UK Friends of the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers) and Major Andrew Fox (a British Army major and war studies lecturer at the Royal Military Academy), have come to identical conclusions, Spencer said.  

Over the course of a decade, Spencer’s research has focused on military operations in dense urban areas and subterranean warfare, including Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan), Ukraine, and Israel.

Consistent Analysis

The charge that Israel’s response has been disproportionate or indiscriminate, is “baseless,” Spencer contends.

Each strike has a “proportionality analysis,” including determining the level of threat or value of the target, how many civilians surround them, whether it is possible to strike without harming civilians , and doing everything reasonable to prevent harm. Israel takes seriously this type of rigorous analysis, Spencer said. “There has been no actual evidence – unless you believe Tik Tok videos – of Israel targeting civilians, or any prohibited target.” 

U.S. intelligence confirms this, he said. 

Spencer contends that the accusation that Israel is trying to starve Gazans is also “a big lie,” and “the data does not support the claim.” Spencer insisted that Israel “has done everything feasible and reasonable to flood Gaza with food.” There are, however, examples where Hamas intercepted aid, sometimes shooting people to get it, then selling it at a high price. “There’s a lot of evidence showing that as well,” Spencer told Community Magazine.

Public Opinion

Spencer noted that Israel is “horrible at communicating operations to the public.”  If he had the ability to change things, he would “assign more resources to winning the battle of narratives on a day-to-day, hour-to-hour basis.” 

“Under the social media algorithm-driven confirmation bias, if you had negative ideas about Israel, it’s going to feed you that. Then you’re going to infer what you want.”

Observers both inside Israel and abroad have criticized the length of the war. However, Spencer asserted, “the enemy had 15 years to prepare to defend the area, meaning it’s going to require a lot of force to overtake the enemy.”

Projections for an Israeli Vicory 

For Spencer, a win for Israel would look like the following: Hamas is virtually eliminated, Gaza is demilitarized, the hostages are freed – and afterwards would come reconstruction and deradicalization. (Netanyahu has called for something similar, adding to the list the importance of securing of the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow strip of land situated along the entirety of the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt – that otherwise would be porous to smuggling.) 

Spencer proposed starting with “the inkblot strategy,” also known as “the inkspot strategy.” This is a military strategy for subduing a large hostile region with a relatively small military force. The force starts by establishing a number of small safe areas dispersed over the region. In this case, it would be a small and secure area of Gaza, to bring about more stability in the area.

“Even when I was operating as a junior soldier in Baghdad, we put concrete walls around everything. People don’t like those, but it created safe neighborhoods. And then we found people within each neighborhood to be the security force of that neighborhood.”

Spencer wrote in an August 21 Foreign Affairs column, “[Hamas] is much shakier today that it was on Oct. 7,” owing to the death of hundreds of its leaders, minimization of weapons and units, as well as crushed infrastructure.

Israel’s Ethical Stand

Israel has made significant progress in the Gaza war, despite formidable odds. These include Hamas’s strategy of using civilian shields, storing/firing weapons in places internationally recognized as neutral zones (such as hospitals, schools, and mosques), and booby-trapping buildings where arms are stored. Despite the other side playing dirty, Israel has taken the moral high road, protecting civilians, allowing and even providing humanitarian aid, and putting its own soldiers at risk to protect Gazan innocents. Although, much of the world criticizes Israel, military expects, such as those cited above, give testimony to Israel’s being in the right, and going to extreme lengths to protect innocents. 

We pray that soon the war will end, and our enemies will be vanquished.