Tag: Punishment

  • Punishment in the Torah

    In the view of the Torah a thief has to repay his victim for what he has stolen. Just sitting in jail is not enough. He caused damage to the victim and until the victim has forgiven him, he is not forgiven.

  • Own Up to Your Actions

    פרשת בראשית / כ”ו בתשרי תשפ”ג

    The reason for the punishment of Adam & Eve was not that they had violated God’s one commandment. It was that they denied culpability.

  • Do Not Shame Your Brother

    פרשת כי תצא / י”ב באלול תשפ”ב

    We are admonished not to let the body of a person convicted of a capital offense hang overnight. This is so the family will not be shamed. It is assumed that the family is embarrassed by the actions of the criminal. We don’t have to rub in.

  • You Are Not an Animal

    פרשת נשא / ח’ בסיון תשפ”ב

    In this week’s portion we learn about the punishment for the wayward wife. That is a woman who is warned not to be wife a certain man and she does so anyway. Part of the punishment is that she is given animal feed to eat. This is to teach her that just as she behaved like an animal, so we treat her as such.

  • Crime & Punishment in the Torah

    פרשת בהר / ט”ו באייר תשפ”ב – ל’ בעומר

    A Jew becomes a slave due to being convicted of theft. The thief is required to repay the victim for the property stolen and pay damages for the pain and suffering that he caused. This is different from most other forms of law that do not connect the victim and perpetrator. The Torah reminds us that there is a connection.