"While the laws of ritual impurity may seem obscure, obtuse and irrelevant, in truth, they play a key and vital role in Judaism and Jewish life because these laws represent Judaism's way of underscoring the ultimate sanctity of human life.
"In fact, it may very well be that the principle of the sanctity of human life is the bottom line of all of Jewish life! It has been cogently argued that every single one of the 613 religious duties (mitzvos), as well as all the derivatives of those mitzvos, can be traced back to the principle of the sanctity of human life....
"The challenge faced in the 21st Century to maintain an exalted respect for human life, may in fact be greater than at anytime in human history....
"If some form of the laws of the Red Heifer were still practiced today, requiring that each person who is exposed to death travel to Jerusalem or to some 'special' location and undergo a ritual affirmation of life, there is little question that people would not be as lackadaisical and indifferent to the principle of the sanctity of life, as much of society is today....
"My friend, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, has made an acute observation, noting that most people are annoyed when the sounds of fire engines or ambulances disturb their peace and tranquility. He suggests that it is important that whenever such alarms are heard, that we utter a silent prayer that the rescue vehicles reach the victims in time, and that no one will be seriously hurt. It is this heightened awareness and sensitivity to the sanctity of human life that the Torah rituals constantly try to reinforce" (Jewish World Review, 7/1/11).
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