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Why does the Torah (תורה) connect ben sorer u'moreh to eglah arufah? The connection reveals that true chesed (חסד) isn't just doing favors—it's building self-respect. A child from parents lacking self-esteem has no hope for change, while maintaining dignity through proper chesed can transform lives.
Rabbi Zweig begins by addressing the Mizrahi's question about the apparent contradiction between two Torah (תורה) principles. In ben sorer u'moreh (the rebellious son), we execute a child based on what he will become (nidon al shem sofo), yet the Gemara (גמרא) in Rosh Hashanah says Yishmael was saved because people are judged by their current state, not their future. The Maharal distinguishes between heavenly and earthly courts, but Rabbi Zweig finds this answer unsatisfying. The key insight comes from analyzing the Torah's structure. Ben sorer u'moreh appears under the same chapter heading as eglah arufah (the ritual for an unsolved murder), indicating a thematic connection. The eglah arufah procedure requires city elders to declare 'our hands did not spill this blood' (yadeinu lo shafchu), meaning they properly escorted their guest. The Rambam (רמב"ם) teaches that escorting a guest is the most important element of hospitality, and failure to escort is tantamount to murder.
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Parshas Ki Seitzei 21:18-21, 21:1-9
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