3

What's the legal status of one who's sentenced to death by a court (say smoked on Shabbos) from the moment of the verdict till the actual death:

  • What're his economical rights (his property, estate, debts, etc)?

  • What are his Mitzvas obligations - is he still commanded to keep all the Mitzvos till dead?

3
  • I recall Minchas Asher discusses the monetary rights of someone sentenced to death. I'd have to check (he said their property isn't hefker)
    – robev
    Aug 1, 2019 at 17:16
  • @robev Just asked for you judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/106191/…
    – Al Berko
    Aug 1, 2019 at 17:30
  • 1
    If you put the words גברא קטילא into a Sefaria search and glance through the various sources brought up, it seems pretty clear that the Nafka Minah's are basically all related to physically harming the condemned. There don't seem to be any other (i.e. monetary, Issurim) implications for the condemned. sefaria.org/… Aug 1, 2019 at 17:53

1 Answer 1

5

Rambam, הלכות סנהדרין פרק י"ג: Once the verdict [of death] has been rendered, [the convicted] is executed without delay on the same day.

There is very little time between the verdict and execution, there is not much time for Mitzos. Rambam doesn't mention whether he does וידוי or קריאת שמע before death. In chapter 13:2, Rambam adds that one who confesses is given a bit of Frankincense mixed with wine to befuddle his mind (שתטרף דעתו עליו וישתכר), and put him into a drunken state, presumably to numb the pain of execution. I would infer from these הלכות that Mitvos are pretty much irrelevant from the point of conviction onward.

Regarding loss of possessions: Although Rambam also writes that the relatives of the convicted do not mourn him after death (13:6), it doesn't say anywhere that the condemned loses his possessions. I have never seen anywhere stated that there is any monetary penalty accompanying the death penalty. On the contrary, the Gemara states that someone who is liable to a monetary penalty or lashes, and also the death penalty, only gets the death penalty.

A rationale for this: We usually speak of the death penalty as atonement, not punishment. So no other penalty is required to atone for the convicted. Therefore the court has no need to take his possessions, and they will pass to his heirs, as in a normal death, since the execution is sufficient for atonement.

1
  • 1
    +1, this is indeed what the mishna in Sanhedrin 6:1 writes. I wanted to answer this way but then saw the Bartenura explanation of Sanhedrin 9:4 (quoted here) and felt the question did have value. You answered very nicely
    – mbloch
    Aug 2, 2019 at 13:21

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .