Parshat Shoftim

Our hands did not spill this blood, and our eyes did not see... (Deuteronomy 21:7)

The principle behind the law of Eglah Arufah is that a person is also responsible for what occurs outside of the area where he is fully in control. When a murdered traveler is found out in the field, the elders of the nearest city must go out there and bring the Eglah Arufah to atone for the crime, although it occurred "outside of their jurisdiction"; for it was nevertheless their responsibility to send the traveler off with adequate provision and protection.

The same applies on the personal level in all areas of life. A person never has the right to say, "This is outside of my element. I have no obligation to deal with this." If it is something that, by Divine Providence, one has been made aware of, that means that there is something one can do to positively influence the end result.

(The Lubavitcher Rebbe)