courts

Found 6 Search results

1. "A Man Shall be Put to Death Only for his Own Crime"- Audio

   Prof. Jonathan Grossman

   תאריך פרסום: August 5773 (2013) | | 9 minutes

   This parasha, which deals with laws relating to courts, death penalties, and runaway slaves, contains phrases quoted and related to in later books of Tanakh, as well. But some of the ideas related to these laws also appear - in similar and yet very different form - in the Code of Hammurabi. Comparing laws in our parasha with those in other Near Eastern societies demonstrates an extreme contrast between the Torah’s values and those of other societies.

2. Ramban on Shoftim - Does Jewish Society Exist in Chutz LaAretz?

   Rabbi Ezra Bick | 12 minutes

   This shiur looks at the mitzva of setting up courts as it appears in Parashat Shoftim. The Torah presents the setting up of courts as a sequential next step after settling in the Land of Israel, and commands people to follow the instructions of the judges and kohanim. Ramban distinguishes between the mitzva’s application in the land as opposed to elsewhere, during the exile. Are we commanded to set up courts in Jewish communities outside of Israel? One would expect that the rule of law is important anywhere. But in the Land of Israel, especially with the Mikdash at the center and the central court adjacent to it, the full potential of the Jewish community can be realized, and the courts can be set up as a firmly established institution, as opposed to an ad hoc basis.

3. Communities and Courts

   HaTanakh.com

4. Kedoshim: No Mercy Here

   Rabbi Jay Kelman

5. Two Essential Lessons Before Receiving the Torah

   Rabbi Yehuda Amital

   Two incidents appear in Parashat Yitro before the account of the giving of the Torah, yet their actual chronology is nonetheless unclear:  the arrival of Yitro, Moshe's father-in-law (Shemot 18:1-12); and Yitro's critique and improvement of the judicial system (Shemot 18:12-27).

   There is a classical dispute about whether these incidents occurred prior to the giving of the Torah, or whether they really happened after the giving of the Torah, and are for some reason written out of place.  

    Why do we need to hear of Am Yisrael's having a system of justice even before the giving of the Torah? In order to impress upon us that there is a morality, a basic system of right and wrong, even before the giving of formal commandments. 

    

   Based on a sicha by Harav Yehuda Amital (summarized by Ramon Widmonte)

6. Shoftim: Intellectual Honesty

   Rabbi Jay Kelman