Tomorrow is the 13th yahrtzeit of my beloved Rebbe and friend Rav Lipman Podolsky ztz"l who died tragically young at the age of 40 leaving behind 7 children and hundreds of Talmidim and Talmidos. Here is a Dvar Torah he wrote:
Parshas Shoftim
Rav Lipman Podolsky
1 Elul 5757
"If a corpse be found... fallen in the field; it is not known who killed him... and the city which is closest to the corpse, and the elders of that city should take a calf, which has not been worked, which has not yet pulled a yoke. And the elders of that city shall take the calf down to a rocky valley that cannot be used to work or plant, and they should break the calf's neck in the valley..." (Devarim 21:1-9)
A number of questions present themselves: Why must they bring specifically a calf that has not yet done any work? And moreover, why do they bring it to a place which has no potential to be worked? And finally, why do they break its neck, an act of utter waste and futility?
Immediately before the aforementioned pesukim, we find the mitzva of "bal tashchis": "When you will lay siege upon a city for many days ... You shall not destroy its tree to set upon it an ax, for from it shall you eat, and it you shall not cut down, for man is the tree of the field..."(Devarim 20:19) First of all, what is the reasoning of this "strange" mitzva? What is wrong with cutting down a fruit tree? And what is the meaning of the statement, that a man is the tree? What possible connection could there be? And finally, what is the relationship between these two unique mitzvos, Egla Arufa, and Bal Tashchis, that the Torah sees fit to juxtapose them?
The Kli Yakar elucidates the reasoning behind the mitzva of bal tashchis. One should not think that the Torah is concerned only about the fruits which are on the tree now. Rather, the Torah is concerned about all of the future fruits that this tree could potentially produce. In addition, every fruit contains at least one seed, which can bring forth another tree, and untold millions of future fruits. If you cut such a tree down, all of that splendid potential is wiped out, with the stroke of an ax. This is one reason why the Torah has forbidden us from cutting it down. Because the Torah cares immensely about wasted potential.
If this reasoning holds true regarding a fruit tree, who's entire purpose is only to serve man, then how much more so must it be true regarding man (or woman) himself. This is the idea behind the egla arufa. A person, in his prime of life, was cut down, destroyed, and all of his future achievements have gone to waste. All of his potential, everything that he could have accomplished, is gone forever. An unparalleled tragedy.
With this in mind, it is readily understandable why they bring a calf which has not done any work, to a place where no work can be done. As Rashi brings down: "Says HaKadosh Boruch Hu, bring a one year old calf who hasn't produced any fruit, and break her neck in a place which can produce no fruit, to atone for the killing of this person, who was not allowed to produce fruit." The egla arufa symbolizes wasted potential, and this symbolism is supposed to arouse us to teshuva, both in the way we treat our fellow man, and also the way we treat ourselves. The Torah is emphasizing to us the unlimited importance of the human being (potential includes: Torah, Mitzvos, Children and Talmidim). This is the meaning of the enigmatic verse quoted above," for man is the tree of the field." Just as the tree literally has unlimited potential, so too is it with man. This is why he is called Adam, named after the ground, which possesses unlimited potential for sprouting forth (Maharal). And if this is the Torah's reaction to one who died, thereby losing his potential, one can well imagine the tremendous anguish that Hashem must experience when He witnesses someone who is still alive, yet neglects to fulfill his potential. One who is alive, but living as if they were already dead.
It is sad that so many "orthodox" Jews today actually strive to mediocrity. In this new year, let us try to learn from this Torah message.
"For man is the tree of the field."
