Accidental Killer

Found 9 Search results

1. Murdering with Guile

   Rabbi Yaakov Medan

   To which murderer is the Torah referring when it states “you shall take him from My altar to die”? Chazal’s interpretation included only one who murders intentionally with premeditation, as opposed to one who murders accidentally. The verses, however, include a third type of murderer who is a composite of the first two types. He murders intentionally, but pretends to have done so unknowingly. It is concerning this murderer that the Torah commands that he be removed from the place of his refuge, from the 'altar,' and put to death. Examples exist throughout the biblical text, from Cain who murders Hevel, through Yoav ben Tzeruya’s murder of Avner, Amasa and Uriya, to Yishmael ben Netanya who murders Gedaliya ben Achikam.

2. The Inadvertent Murderer and the Cities of Refuge

   Prof. Jonathan Grossman

   The Cities of Refuge serve a dual purpose: They protect the accidental killer from the blood avenger, and if the killing is indeed found to be accidental, the city serves as an exile for the killer until the death of the High Priest.

3. Cities of Refuge and Cities of Flight

   Rabbi Amnon Bazak

   What is the nature of the Cities of Refuge? Parashat Masei seems to imply that they have a legal function: defending a murderer until he is accused or acquitted, and punishing him with exile if the killing is deemed unintentional. However, Parashat Shoftim seems to describe the cities of refuge as protective, intended to protect the killer from the blood avenger. Is the blood avenger permitted to kill the accidental killer? Are the two episodes discussing the same killer? What are the differences, and what is the reason behind them?

4. The Cities of Refuge

   Rabbi Yehuda Rock

   The laws of Go’el HaDam (the blood avenger) do not express the ideal aspiration of the Torah, but rather the Torah's consideration of human need – a need that should ideally not exist, and which the Torah expects to pass from the world. The laws pertaining to a murderer in the context of the Beit Din are eternal.

5. Masei - Death and Responsibility

   Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 12 minutes

   There are various interesting topics in Parashat Masei. After exploring a few strange pesukim and their placement within the summary of the journeys, we move on to the topic of the Cities of Refuge for the "accidental killer." It is noteworthy that at times this killer is referred to as a killer ("makkeh"), and at times as a murderer ("rotzei'ah."). This terminology relates to the ideas of responsibility that the Torah has. When using dangerous equipment, we cannot take a lackadaisical attitude - we must be very careful. One who is not sufficiently careful in life-threatening situations can be much worse than negligent.

6. Shoftim: The Line Between Murder And Apathy

   Rabbi David Fohrman |

   In this week's parsha, we are introduced to cities of refuge, a safe haven for one who kills accidentally. Interestingly, we've heard many of the same circumstances before in the narrative section of the Torah, but why? In this video, Rabbi Fohrman gives us a context to understand what lies beyond accidental murder, and how to become more sensitive individuals.

    

    

   If you enjoyed this video, please visit AlephBeta.org to watch more.

7. Shoftim: The Line Between Murder And Apathy - Epilogue 1

   Rabbi David Fohrman |

   Shoftim: Epilogue 1

    

   If you enjoyed this video, please visit AlephBeta.org to watch more.

8. Shoftim: The Line Between Murder And Apathy - Epilogue 2

   Rabbi David Fohrman |

   Shoftim: Epilogue 2

    

    

   If you enjoyed this video, please visit AlephBeta.org to watch more.

9. Accidental, Purposeful and What Lies Between Them

   Rabbanit Dr. Michal Tikochinsky