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Why does the Torah (תורה) require every city of 120 people to have 69 judges, making most of the population judiciary? The goal isn't to punish crime but to prevent it through inspiration. When communities are filled with righteous role models, people naturally avoid wrongdoing rather than fear punishment.
This shiur explores the seemingly impractical Torah (תורה) requirement that every Jewish city of 120 people must have a full judiciary of 69 judges (23 judges plus substitutes and students). Rabbi Zweig addresses the apparent absurdity of this requirement and reveals its deeper purpose through analysis of Parshas Shoftim and related Talmudic sources. The key insight emerges from the Talmudic principle that a Jewish court which executes someone more than once in 70 years is considered a "murderous court." This paradox - requiring extensive judicial infrastructure while condemning frequent use of capital punishment - reveals that the Torah's judicial system has a fundamentally different goal than secular law enforcement.
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Parshas Shoftim 16:18-20
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