Q&A: Regarding Karet
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Regarding Karet
Question
In Column 75 you explained that the purpose of the Passover offering is apparently inclusion in the community, and therefore the passage ends with the punishment of karet for one who does not bring the offering.
Does that mean that the other punishments of karet are also connected to non-inclusion in the community? And what exactly is “karet” in your view?
Thanks,
Hatzvi Pesach P. Rank
Answer
I don’t see that in all transgressions punishable by karet. Of course, one can always come up with nice homiletic explanations saying that all those transgressions amount to non-inclusion in the community, but I don’t see anything that convinces me. I was speaking only about cases of karet attached to positive commandments.