Above the Law
The Ethics of Taking the Law Into Your Own Hands
We are blessed today to live under a system of laws that enables our orderly and peaceful society to function. But what are we to do when the proverbial long arm of the law suddenly seems to shrink -- when a situation seems to call for us to take the law into our own hands to correct an injustice? Is there ever justification to do so? If G-d helps those who help themselves, should the law also help those who help themselves? In this lesson, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of allowing citizens to self-help and how the Talmud addresses this matter.
