Reply To: Short & Sweet

Ki Seitzei: Wrong World

The Meforshim are bothered by the punishment of a ?? ???? ????? – why does he deserve the death penalty? Sure, he didn’t listen to his parents and stole some money to be able to indulge in food and wine, but why is that a capital crime?

Rashi explains that a ?? ???? ????? is put to death because his life will only go downhill from here. People who will not accept authority and instead steal in order to indulge themselves can only lead a life of crime; better to end this life early.

The Ibn Ezra disagrees. He explains that the issue is not in what this person may do in the future, but rather what he is doing right now. He is living a life focused only on attaining instant pleasure in this world by any means necessary, without any thought of what will be with him for all eternity in the next world. The Ibn Ezra writes that this lifestyle is comparable to being an Apikores. This belief that we are here to enjoy this world, rather than to prepare for the next one, is the very antithesis of our entire religion.

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