The Secret of the Unsolved Murder

Rabbi Chaim Richman

This week’s Torah portion of Shoftim includes many unique commandments, and the portion concludes with the Case of the Unsolved Murder (Deut. Ch. 21: 1-9), featuring the commandment of the ‘axed heifer’ and all its details. When a corpse is found in a field and the identity of its killer is unknown, the nation’s judges must come and measure the distance from the body to the nearest city, and the city’s elders participate in a perplexing and moving ceremony. What is the significance of this unusual, symbolic ceremony? Through the lesson of the unsolved murder, Torah teaches us a profound lesson about the responsibility of the individual, the leadership, and the community as a whole…and a life-changing lesson about the sanctity of human life.

The Torah portion of Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16 : 18 - 21 : 9) is read on Shabbat, Elul 6, 5781 - August 14, 2021
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Rabbi Chaim Richman
Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone


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