Q&A: Attitude Toward Punishment
Attitude Toward Punishment
Question
Hello Rabbi. In the chapter “Four Death Penalties” it is explained that the level of punishment is a measure of the severity of the sin; see Maimonides’ commentary on the Mishnah, Avot 2. If so, why is the punishment for desecrating the Sabbath more severe than for murder?
Answer
Hello.
I had a broader essay on this, but I can’t find it right now. I also discussed this at considerable length in the following article:
https://mikyab.net/%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%91%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%9F-%D7%9C%D7%A8%D7%A9%D7%A2-%D7%A8%D7%A2-%D7%9B%D7%A8%D7%A9%D7%A2%D7%AA%D7%95-%D7%94%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%9D/
See also here:
https://musaf-shabbat.com/2016/05/07/%D7%9E%D7%93%D7%93-%D7%94%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%95%D7%93%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%93%D7%A8%D7%97%D7%95%D7%91-%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D-%D7%A8%D7%95/