Shnayim Yomi - Matot - Masei - Sh'vi'i - #7 - Rabbi Dovid Kimche - The Power of Our Surroundings

So the the final aliyah the final aliyah of the safa and we are introduced to a surprising mitzvah the mitzvah or a miklot. These were to be certain towns dotted throughout Israel and as we'll see where any accidental killer would run to and be safe from revenge. So the posit tells us that there was supposed to be three or miklot initi and three a yarane trans Jordan jordan where the two and a half tribes were to make their home and rashi asks a very very simple question and he says that the ratios don't really line up if for nine shvatim nine shatim there were to be three or miklot initial why would there be three or miklot for two and a half tribes shabbatim the ratios do not line up. Why do two and a half tribes need three array mikl? So Rashi says and Rashi quotes the bases his words on the garum in Makus and Rashi says is because in trans Jordan there are more murderers more murderers okay and that's why they needed more mikat so Maharal in his gur here asks the question that we are all wondering and you're wondering right now and uh he asks one second if uh if there are more murderers well mikl do not deal with murderers with intentional murderers deals with accidental deaths. What's an accidental killer got to do with a murderer? Surely those two do not have any bearing on on each other. So he answers that actually indeed they do. And this is a fascinating insight that he offers uh psychological insight probably both. And he says no. He says you know when you're living in an environment where there are more murderers or indeed any averas the chances of you committing that a vera even by mistake even by mistake that is increased that's increased and that's a fascinating insight about the environment that we live in we live in you know the Rambam writes the Rambam writes that in fact we have to do tou for even says we have to do for mitzvah even that we do by mistake and we are responsible for them when you live in an environment where where our various are being committed. Your your sensitivity to these aviras to doing them to committing them even by mistake perhaps we are not as careful as we should be. The chances of us committing even accidental aas are increased and we are responsible for for that. Um this is surely a charge for us. We must be aware of our surroundings of how our surroundings affect us even on a subconscious level.