tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34338525034437330.post3904013171050098779..comments2023-02-12T11:24:51.785-05:00Comments on Migdalor Guy's New Blog: Random Musing Before Shabbat–Pinkhas 5773—G”d’s Justice, G”d’s ResponsibilityMigdalor Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14343484923710511769noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34338525034437330.post-65584386967530693432013-06-28T20:53:32.267-04:002013-06-28T20:53:32.267-04:00Once again, very thought provoking. Thank you!
I...Once again, very thought provoking. Thank you! <br /><br />I learned that there are only two categories of circumstances under current Jewish Law where it is permissible to kill another human being:<br /><br />1) A person is under a presumed duty to defend and preserve one's own life and immediate interests; thus you are allowed to defend also your lives of your family members, and the viability of your Jewish community from attack from without, by anyone. You may kill if your life is threatened by another who is an enemy in time of war or an attack against your home or your city or country (of course this didn't exist at the time the laws were compiled as Halakha) as in a "terrorist attack", and<br /> <br />2) it is permissible to kill a fellow Jew if that Jew is about to commit, or is in the process of committing treachery against his Jewish community, a treason that would undermine, threaten, jeopardize and endanger the survival of the community as a whole. <br /><br />This was learned while taking a course in Jewish Law (in comparison to Islamic Law and to U.S. Law, seen through the prism of multiple contentious legal issues) at Hebrew Univ., Mt. Scopus. It's not only possible but likely that I am not remembering this accurately in its entirety, as it was 17 years ago, so I would be pleased if someone would correct me where I have forgotten or may have gotten it wrong... or even, perhaps, to acknowledge that I remembered this correctly!<br /><br />In weighing these instances against their source material, including the parasha under discussion and others that also deal with retributive death, vigilante killings and death punishment from the One-On-High, the various killings we encounter in the Torah show a grand moral metamorphosis in death penalty approach. I think you've nailed it in your musings this week.<br /><br />We've learned initially that we are our brother's keeper, and after that, for punishment, it was all over the map. Jacob rightfully (at the time) feared for his life at the hand of Esau, because of Jacob's taking for himself (stealing, for a bowl of red pottage) the right to the birthright, compiled by further trickery by hairy vestment to receive the blind Isaac's blessing. What older, entitled son wouldn't be mad enough to kill? Jacob had fences to mend, as he knew he and his sons had miles to go. <br /><br />Aaron's sons handled G"d's fire glibly and got swallowed up. It was a Man to G"d matter. The later cases are about man to man matters. Death for crimes against "G"d" remain G"d's job apparently. There's another religion born in the desert that relegates the death squad job to willing zealots, condoned by approving mullas. I'm so glad Judaism clearly excluded that genre of man-meted-out punishment.JZohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03290020307933227190noreply@blogger.com