This brings us to the following true story.
During the Gaza War called Operation Cast Lead, an experienced front-line combat medic, named Avi was imbedded in a platoon of 36 IDF soldiers. There was also another soldier named Tomer who was not a medic, but had basic trauma first aid training.
During an exchange of fire with the enemy, a soldier named Netanel was shot in the torso. Doctor Avi did a field surgery, and stabilized Netanel, but Netanel needed to be transported to a safe zone by a Humvee, and then airlifted to a hospital, for his life to be saved. Still under fire, Avi had a dilemma about who should accompany Netanel in the Humvee. If Avi would accompany Netanel, Netanel will have a better chance of surviving than if Tomer, the soldier with medical training accompanies him. But if Avi accompanied Netanel, and left Tomer with the unit he would leave the entire unit without a qualified doctor.
Avi was torn about whether he should leave the unit to accompany Netanel.
Which is more important, to improve the chances of one person who is critically wounded, or make sure to be available for the rest of the thirty five soldiers in the unit, who are currently healthy?
What do you think?
See Veharev Na Volume Two page 343
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Answer to last week’s moral dilemma:
(click here to review the question)
According to Rav Tzvi Berkowitz the only city that has greater significance in terms of Yishuv Haaretz is Yerushalayim.
However Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein (Chashukei Chemed Baba Basra page 279) writes based on the Tashbat”z, that all of Yehuda is prefered to the Galil. Chevron is in Yehuda and Tzfas in is the Galil so it would be prefered to do the mitzva of Yishuv Haaretz there.
Of course, all of this is assuming that it is safe to live there.
Correction:
I wrote in the last email that the gemara says that there are four holy cities. I was mistaken. (Thank you Rav Ouzzan) I heard this in a shiur but the source does not come from the gemara. I heard just recently in the name of Rav Yackov Kamenetzky (from Rav Diskind his grandson) that there are really three holy cities, Yerasahlayim, Chevron and Shechem, all cities that were sanctified by their purchase by our Forefathers or David, and Tzfas is not included.
Have a wonderful shabbos!
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