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Why does Torah (תורה) describe the rebellious son's requirements in such impossible detail that Chazal say it never occurred? The shiur develops the thesis that Ben Sorer U'Moreh represents complete inversion of the parent-child relationship - a child who becomes totally self-centered by making himself the center and his parents his servants. This total corruption is why he gets skila now rather than a lighter death penalty later.
Rabbi Zweig analyzes the complex laws of Ben Sorer U'Moreh (the rebellious son) from Parshas Ki Seitzei, addressing fundamental questions about this seemingly impossible-to-fulfill mitzvah (מצוה). The shiur begins by examining the technical requirements: the child must be between 13 and 13.5 years old, both parents must have identical voices, be physically able to grab him, see him, and walk normally. Chazal state this case never occurred due to these stringent conditions. The shiur addresses several major difficulties. First, why does the rebellious son receive skila (stoning), the most severe death penalty, when his future crime would only warrant sayif (sword)? The Mizrachi suggests he would kill on Shabbos (שבת) (warranting skila), while the Maharal proposes he would be killed as a rodef (pursuer). Rabbi Zweig questions both explanations, arguing that if we're preventing future sin, the lightest penalty should suffice.
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Ki Seitzei 21:18-21
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What is the primary purpose of the cities of refuge - protecting the accidental killer or something else? The shiur argues that creating respect for law takes precedence over providing sanctuary. True deterrence comes from recognizing the gravity of murder itself, not fear of punishment.
