[view all articles in this category]

Section: Parshas HaShavua   Category: Quick Vort

Parshas Mishpatim: The Kotzker Rebbe - Are You A Murderer For Killing Your Eved, Or Not?

The torah tells us that if you strike your Eved and he survives for more than 24 hours you are not Chayav Misa, "Ki Kaspo Hu", because he is your property (Mishpatim 21:21).   Rav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk asks, if the eved is merely considered like your ox or donkey, why are you Chayav Misa if  he dies within 24 hours? The Kotzker Rebbe answers that the gemara in Gitin says that if you make your eved Hefker he goes free because once you remove your ownership right he acquires ownership in himself.  When some hits his eved with enough force to kill him he is practically speaking, willingly forfeiting his ownership, and at that very same moment he is murdering a free man.  However if the eved lives for more than 24 hours, than the owner's blow would not constitute forfeiture of ownership, and his subsequent death is considered like killing his ox.

RELATED ARTICLES:Kotzk  murder  Parshas Mishpatim  slavery

<<Previous Article Kotzk People		Next Article>> Who Cares About Olam Haba?

 

Send Your Comments Your Initials (max.2 letters) optional Display Initials? Yes   No CITY optional EMAIL required without a valid email address your comments may not be addressed. COMMENTS required Type Image Code Security Code: note:If image code fails, MANUALLY REFRESH your browser and re-submit.	printable version	Email To a Friend: note:to send to many email addresses, put a comma in-between. * * * Extra Comments:(optional) I came across this Vort on www.Revach.net and thought you'd enjoy it. Type Image Code Security Code: note:If image code fails, MANUALLY REFRESH your browser and re-submit.