- Punishment: Not removed via Repentance
-
- Moshe Ben-Chaim
-
- Reader: "If the punishment
associated with the violation of a particular commandment must be
carried out no matter what, then what purpose does repentance
serve?"
-
- Mesora: The one positive effect
of death for the one being slain is his attonement. Prior to his
death, repentance by the individual is to correct his values and
perfect his soul, but he still must be slain to uphold the system and
instill fear in society. The Torah says that you kill so and so and
then describes the societal benefit of the slain's death acting as a
deterrent, "v'lo yzidoon ode" , "the people will not
again sin". (Deut. 17:13)
Ezekiel Chapter 18, G-d completely forgives one who repents fully,
even to the point that G-d will deter his timely death due to his new
found perfection. However, perfection of the person does not warrant
the courts to alter the halachik system. What is in man's (the courts)
obligation to exercise must be meted out in accordance with Jewish
law. G-d on the other hand will alter nature for the one who fully
repents. G-d will even protect him from disasters, but G-d will not
alter the system which is His desire to be fulfilled by man.
Complete repentance therefore assures us of G-d's complete protection
from evils which arise due to nature, and the course of the world. But
it does not cause the courts to abandon their following of the justice
system.
|