Questions tagged [murder]
The prohibition against murder is the 6th of the Ten Commandments. Murder does not include court executions, defensive wars, or wars commanded by G-d.
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Is shooting an injured convicted Jew to hasten his death permitted?
In the previous question "hastening-death-of-a-jew", the OP seemingly assumed that the hastening death of a Jew is forbidden in any case.
What would the Halacha be in the following case:
A person ...
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1answer
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If a blood avenger somehow gets into a city of refuge and kills the killer, is he subject to the death penalty?
We know that a Goel haDam (blood avenger) has a special allowance to kill the rotzeach who accidentally killed his family member. The accidental rotzeach can avoid this fate by fleeing to an ir miklat,...
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Do non-Jews have the same value as Jews? [duplicate]
In Gemara of Sanhedrin on daf 74a it discusses a famous Jewish thought that one can not value himself over another. As it says:
רוצח גופיה מנא לן סברא הוא דההוא דאתא לקמיה דרבה ואמר ליה אמר לי מרי ...
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1answer
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Do Gentiles need to excute a convicted murderer?
B'nai Noach are forbidden to murder innocents. They are also required to establish courts.
If the Gentile court convicts the murderer, do they need to execute the murderer, or does performing the ...
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6answers
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Correct translation of “לא תרצח” - Thou shalt not kill or murder?
There are, basically, two English translations of the Sixth Commandment - "לא תרצח" (Ex 20:13 and Deut 5:17): some read "kill", some read "murder".
Murder seems more accurate since there is ...
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1answer
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Is an accidental murderer allowed to stand and fight the Goel HaDam?
As we know, during times when the Sanhedrin is fully operating, an accidental murderer must flee to an Ir Miklat (City of Refuge). If he leaves such a city or does not enter, he is subject to revenge ...
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1answer
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Can you kill person A to protect yourself from B?
So it's really difficult to think of a practical example of this, but imagine there were some scenario in which, G-d forbid, you needed to kill a non-guilty party in self-defense. If one were in this ...
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Going out on Shabbat for Avenging your father's murder?
In the Mishna Berurah on the end of Siman 306 (page 200 of Vol. 3 in the classic editions) he writes:
כתב כנה"ג דללכת חוץ לתחום בשבת לנקום נקמת אביו מרוצחים מותר ותמה עליו המג"א וש"א דהא לא עדיף ...
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1answer
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Does a person who kills someone by accident have to go live in Chevron nowadays?
Someone who kills by accident has to go live in one of the Arei Miklat. The Rambam paskens this halacha and does not specify that it only applies at a particular time, only when there's a Sanhedrin, ...
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“Kanai”: What criteria must be met by a defendant charged with murder who claims “kanai” status (halachik answers only please, not hashkafik/musar)
Much has been written about kanaut, and see for example the famous brother and sister Leibowitz, writing separately, but mine is a purely-halachik question: If someone replicates Pinchas's action, ...
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Murder in Eretz Yisrael
The Gemara in Yoma (85a) argues that murder is more chamur than chilul Shabbos because it "contaminates the land and drives away the Shechina"
ושפיכות דמים מטמא את הארץ וגורם לשכינה שתסתלק מישראל
...
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2answers
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Which is a more severe aveira, murder or chilul (desecrating) Shabbos?
Which is a more severe aveira, murder or chilul (desecrating) Shabbos?
On the one hand we know that murder is Yeheraig V'al yaavor (one of the 3 capital crimes for which one must give up his life). ...
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1answer
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is a animal more responsible then a child? if yes why?
if an animal kills a Jew it deserves the death penalty source
if a child (under 13/12) kills a Jew he is completely free (no consequences)?
if yes why?
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2answers
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Does “attempted murder” carry punishment by Jewish law?
[Question recently posed to me by a friend]
קידושין דף מ עמוד א---------Kidushin 40a
מחשבה רעה אין הקדוש ברוך הוא מצרפה למעשה שנאמר (תהלים סו, יח) און אם
ראיתי בלבי לא ישמע ה' ואלא מה אני ...
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1answer
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Does Yehareg v’al Yaavor apply to lo sa’amod?
The Gemara (Sanhedrin 74a) derives that one must give up his life rather than murder someone else because “who says that your blood is redder than his?” That is, who said you have more of a right to ...
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3answers
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Why did Pharaoh only order the murder of boys?
In parashat shemote, Pharaoh explicitly commands the midwives to allow the females to live (וְאִם-בַּת הִוא וָחָיָה). What are the traditional commentaries explaining the order to allow the girls to ...
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0answers
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How was Matisyahu's murder justified
According to sforim chitsoynim, Matisyahu murdered an unarmed villager in Modin. I believe this tale is repeated in Rabbinic sources, perhaps the Medrash, because I was taught it in Yeshiva. My ...
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2answers
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Releasing terrorists in exchange for remains of past victims
What would be a halachik justification for mediating a deal involving releasing terrorists, who may well murder more victims, in exchange for remains of past victims?
Related: Why is the head of the ...
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2answers
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Does killing a gentile unintentionally absolve you from the crime? (Makkot 7b)
Does killing a gentile unintentionally absolve you from the crime? (Makkot 7b)
"(דברים יט, ד) בבלי דעת פרט למתכוין מתכוין פשיטא בר קטלא הוא אמר רבה פרט למתכוין להרוג את הבהמה והרג את האדם לכותי והרג ...
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How to determine a trespasser's intent from a Halachic Perspective?
How do we determine a trespasser's intent from a Halachic Perspective?
The Rambam writes:
If it is clear to the house-owner that the thief who breaks in will not kill him and instead is only ...
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1answer
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Trespassers from a Halachic Perspective
Where is there a discussion where one can or can not injure or kill anybody who trespasses one's property?
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225 views
Murderous Yibum
What is the Halacha in the following case: Reuven and Shimon are brothers. Reuven marries Rachel and has no children (Rachel is
not pregnant). Shimon decides that he wants to be married to Rachel, ...
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3answers
124 views
If a kohen participates in a stoning is he still allowed to bless the people?
The shulchan aruch codifies that a Kohen who kills someone may not bless the people. If, in the times when the Sanhedrin administered capital punishment, a Kohen saw a situation that warranted the ...
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2answers
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Was Yoav considered a murderer regarding Uriah the Hittite?
In Samuel I chapter 11, David commands Yo'av to place Uriah the Hittite in the middle of a battle so that, inevitably, the enemy would kill him while he is unprotected. Yo'av carries out the command.
...
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0answers
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Charlie Gard's parents from a Halachic Perspective
As this question is somewhat extensive, I have divided the post into headers in order to make it easier to read and follow.
Background
Charlie Gard is a British baby who has a rare genetic disorder ...
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1answer
143 views
When is revenge permitted
I understand that it is forbidden for a Jew to take revenge.
Rambam Deyot 7.7
A person who takes revenge against a colleague transgresses a Torah prohibition, as Leviticus 19:18 states: "Do not ...
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Does a killer with permission lose his צלם אלקים?
Haamek Davar (ad loc.) explains that צלם אלקים (in Genesis 1:26–27) refers to an angel, also called a person's מזל, which envelops each of us and protects him from harm. He (to 4:14) explains further ...
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1answer
495 views
Is the Goel HaDam (Blood Avenger) obligated to pursue blood vengeance?
During times when the Torah is the law of the land, if a Jew commits accidental murder against another Jew, he must flee to a Ir Miklat (City of Refuge) or else be subject to revenge killing by the ...
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0answers
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Murder by Machine
Say that Reuven is at the batting cages. After the machine turns off, Shimon flips it back on without Reuven knowing. A ball whacks Reuven in the head. Is Shimon liable for the resulting death?
What ...
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1answer
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May an accidental murderer choose to leave the city of refuge?
I understand from the Sefer HaChinuch, mitzvah 410, that a person who kills accidentally has a mitzvah to go to a city of refuge. I would like to know if that person is allowed to leave the city of ...
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Is it ever Halachically permissible to kill a murderer who poses no further danger without trial?
Is the killing of a terrorist who murders a Jew and would eagerly murder more people Halachically permissible if such a person is unable to actually perform additional murders?
According to a ...
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1answer
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Indirect murder
If you tell someone to murder someone else and they do it, are you chayav misa - even if you didn't personally perform the act?
If not, what are you liable for, and on what basis?
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2answers
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What one must give up their life for
It is commonly known that there are 3 things that a Jew must give up their life for and not to be ovar (transgress) on these things: Giliah Ariyos (sexual relations that are not permitted), Shivchus ...
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1answer
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Pinchas-style act nowadays
Is there any situation whereby a Pinchas-style execution would be justified nowadays?
I am particularly interested in whether a 'zealous act' against a public sexually problematic sin is possible in ...
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0answers
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political assasination and rodefs
The classic example of a roded is a murder chasing you with a knife but sometime politicians can threaten life with bad policy.
E.g. Governor of Michigan Wants to use Flint River
Eg politician wants ...
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3answers
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Did Jews kill any of their prophet?
Qur'an accuses Jews of killing their prophets:
And [recall] when you said, "O Moses, we can never endure one [kind of] food. So call upon your Lord to bring forth for us from the earth its green ...
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1answer
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Mi La'Hashem Eilai - Was this an appropriate response?
This question weaves together a couple different sources.
The first nekudah comes from 32:32 where we have the phrase:
וְאִם-אַיִן--מְחֵנִי נָא, מִסִּפְרְךָ אֲשֶׁר כָּתָבְתָּ - If you will not [...
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4answers
291 views
Is the commandment 'You shall not murder' the most important commandment in Judaism? [closed]
Does the rule 'You shall not murder' stand above all other rules in Judaism?
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4answers
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Why did God need to command the Jews not to kill?
There is a principle 'svara lamah li krah i.e. if a certain idea is logical and self evident to the average healthy mind, the Torah does not need to teach that idea. Additionally, what seems to be ...
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What is an overview of Judaism's arguments against the “unconscious violinist” analogy used to support abortion in the case of rape?
I am looking for the response of any denomination that is against abortion in the case of rape that has also responded to the scenario below or something similar to it.
"A Defense of Abortion" (...
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2answers
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The question of euthanasia
How does the law treat euthanasia for palliative patients? Is it ok to ask for it and how would the act be treated (as a murder or ?)
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3answers
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Why did Cain (Kayin) kill Abel (Hevel)?
In Bereshis 4:8 we read:
וַיֹּאמֶר קַיִן, אֶל-הֶבֶל אָחִיו; וַיְהִי בִּהְיוֹתָם בַּשָּׂדֶה, וַיָּקָם קַיִן אֶל-הֶבֶל אָחִיו וַיַּהַרְגֵהוּ
And Cain spoke unto Abel his brother. And it came to pass, ...
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1answer
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Handing over a murderer to the Goel Hadam?
וְשָׁלְחוּ זִקְנֵי עִירוֹ וְלָקְחוּ אֹתוֹ מִשָּׁם וְנָתְנוּ אֹתוֹ בְּיַד גֹּאֵל הַדָּם וָמֵת.
The elders of his city must take him [the intentional murderer] and hand him over to the blood ...
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Why don't we rely on Anan Sahadi for murder cases?
The Rambam writes in his Sefer HaMitzvos Lavim #290:
"Even if A pursues B with intent to kill, and B takes refuge in a house, and the pursuer follows him, and we enter after them and find B in ...
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2answers
134 views
Was Avraham really in the right going to sacrifice Yitzchak? [duplicate]
If someone says, "Hey, you. You go kill _______ or i'll kill you," you are not allowed to go kill that person. That's an extreme case. But in the case with Yitzchak, there was no 'Or i'll kill you.' ...
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2answers
185 views
Is rape considered yehareig v'al yaavor?
Since Deut. 22:25-26 equates rape with murder, would a man be required to give up his life rather than commit rape?
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1answer
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What does “made into a pile of bones” mean?
Several places in Chazal we find the expression נתן בו עיניו ועשהו גל של עצמות - someone was looked at and made into a pile of bones (e.g. Sanhedrin 100a, Bava Basra 75a, Brachos 58a, Shabbos 34a).
...
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2answers
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kosher murder switch?
It is generally accepted that grama (indirect causation) is not permitted in performing a forbidden melacha in non-emergency situations. Similarly, while there may be cases of grama in other halachic ...
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1answer
82 views
Earliest moment for interrupted wedding to be considered binding?
A Jewish marriage takes place but the ceremony is, Hashem forbid, interrupted by a terrorist's bullet. One of the couple dies. How far must the ceremony have gone for the bereaved to be considered a ...
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2answers
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Origin of “May God Avenge His Blood” (הי"ד)
What is the origin (i.e earliest usages) of appending הי"ד ("May God Avenge His Blood") after the name of a murder victim.
