“When a corpse is found … and it is not known who killed it.” (Devarim 21:1)
The obligation to bring an eglah arufah which applies only when the identity of the murderer isn’t known begs further explanation. Logically if we’re obligated to bring it when the murderer is not known then certainly we should bring it when it’s known that the murderer was a Jew.
However when it’s known who committed the act of murder no Jewish person (other than the murderer himself of course) is in need of atonement. Why is this? After all innocent Jewish blood was spilled; how is the sin expunged by the fact that we know who committed the murder? (Rav Yehuda Leib Chasman Ohr Yahel).
Elul is here.
Something childish within me wishes to burrow deep within the blanket of everyday life not to know hear or see — just to think about 1 000 other things vying for my attention: the end of summer vacation and the beginning of the school year the initial preparations for the Yamim Tovim and the end of the season in stores. All those thoughts will help me forget the other thoughts pounding within my heart.
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