The 100 Lives Initiative

To the honorable Rabbanim of Sheilot, shlit”aSubject: An urgent call to support the “100 Lives Initiative” - saving Jewish lives on Israel’s roads, in fulfillment of “Venishmartem me’od lenafshoseichem.”Shalom uVracha to the esteemed Rav,We are turning to you out of deep concern and pain over the terrible plague raging on the roads of Eretz Yisrael, the tragedy of car accidents. Every single year, hundreds of neshamos of our brothers and sisters are lost, entire worlds destroyed, and so many of these deaths could have been prevented.The numbers are frightening: around 400 people killed each year on average, and this past year, 2024, is already proving to be one of the worst - with over 430 fatalities so far. Authorities are warning that, chas veshalom, we may even pass the mark of 500 deaths this year.This is not just a matter of traffic safety - it’s a matter of pikuach nefesh, a full halachic and moral obligation to do everything in our power to save lives.Chazal teach us, “Kol ha’mekayem nefesh achas miYisrael ke’ilu kiyem olam malei” - whoever saves one Jewish soul, it’s as if he saved an entire world. And here we are, with the opportunity - and the chiyuv - to save hundreds of worlds every year.Research and technology today clearly show that a large percentage of fatal crashes are caused by simple human error, distraction, tiredness, not keeping distance, drifting from the lane, all things that can be dramatically reduced through systems that already exist.The “100 Lives Initiative” aims to bring these technologies, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), into every car, as a practical step in saving lives. These include automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning (LDW/LKA), blind spot monitoring (BSM), and other similar systems. They act as a sort of “second shomer in the car,” stepping in at the critical moment when a mistake could lead to disaster.These tools don’t replace responsibility, but they serve as a safety net, and as we know, ain somchin al hanes.The Torah tells us: “Ki sivneh bayis chadash v’asisa ma’akeh legagecha, velo sasim damim beveisecha” (Devarim 22:8) - when you build a house, you must make a fence on your roof, so no blood is spilled in your home. From here Chazal learn that there’s an obligation to remove hazards and take every reasonable step to prevent danger.A car on the road without these safety measures is, in today’s terms, like a “roof without a railing.” It’s a potential source of tragedy, and we are mechuyav to put up that “technological railing.”We are commanded: “Lo sa’amod al dam re’echa.” We simply cannot stand by when there’s a clear and available way to prevent bloodshed in Klal Yisrael.We believe the State of Israel must urgently require the installation of these life-saving ADAS systems in all vehicles, with proper assistance and subsidies for families who can’t afford it, so that safety won’t become a matter of privilege.The cost of such an initiative, even if it looks high, is small compared to the value of human life, and even in simple financial terms, the loss from road deaths and injuries costs the country billions each year.Kavod HaRav, your voice - a Torah voice - can make a tremendous difference. A few words of support from you can awaken the people, raise awareness, and push decision-makers to act.Silence in the face of preventable danger is not the derech haTorah.We therefore humbly ask the Rav to look into the matter and, if it finds favor in your eyes, to support the “100 Lives Initiative” to speak about it in derashos and shiurim, to encourage the tzibbur to sign and reach out to leaders, and to publicly express support for adopting these life-saving systems.Every effort, every word, could be the difference between life and death, and could, with Hashem’s help, save countless neshamos miYisrael year after year.We would be happy to meet with the Rav, present the details and research, and receive the Rav’s bracha and guidance.With deep respect and appreciation, Yosef Menachem Saida

Response from our Rav, HaGaon Rav Amrom Fried shlit”a:

Every person has an obligation to make sure no harm comes to others.
You can come speak with the Rav during kabalat kahal, between 10:00 and 12:00 at night.