Q&A: Choose for Him a Humane Death
Choose for Him a Humane Death
Question
Hello Rabbi,
In several places in the Talmud, the statement of Rabbah bar Avuha is brought:
Rav Nachman said in the name of Rabbah bar Avuha: As the verse says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” — choose for him a humane death.
At first glance this is difficult: why do they invoke “Love your neighbor as yourself” regarding wicked people? After all, this rule applies only to one who is “with you in deed.” I thought to answer that every person has an element of fellow-feeling/goodness (which is what should be loved) and an element of wickedness (which is what should be hated). In the case of wicked people, the wicked part is much more dominant, but there still remains a tiny bit of fellow-feeling (humanity), and on its account we spare him a death by torture because of how severe that would be. What do you think?
Best regards,
Answer
If you formulate this in halakhic terms, there are no interpersonal commandments toward wicked people. So there is no room there to distinguish between different dimensions within the person. If he is wicked, there are no interpersonal obligations toward him from any aspect. A person who is liable to death is wicked.
In my humble opinion, when he goes out to be executed, that atones for his sins, and therefore the interpersonal obligations return.
Beyond that, it is possible that this really is a minimum that exists even toward wicked people.