This Thursday, three lethal injections will take place across the United States in Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Alabama.

In a horrific synchronicity, this American triple execution day will occur during the very same week that Jews across the world study the parsha (portion) of the Torah called Shof’tim (“Judges”), which covers Deuteronomy 16:18 – 21:9. This section of the Hebrew Bible includes the phrases “Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof – “Justice, justice you shall pursue,” (Deut. 16: 20) and the famous Torah verse “ayin tachat ayin” – an eye for an eye (Deut. 19: 21). Many rabbis and students of Torah use this opportunity to discuss their interpretation of Judaism’s stance on the death penalty. We, the thousands of members of “L’chaim! Jews Against the Death Penalty” from across Israel and the world, mark this somber occasion by republishing below a sermon that I – co-founder of L’chaim – delivered about this Torah portion three years ago.

One cannot overstate the relevance of this topic for Jews across the world, who have witnessed Israel’s enactment, earlier this year, of two laws allowing for the death penalty, and whose sworn enemy, the government of Iran, is executing its own citizens at a monstrous pace. No longer can anyone claim, as individuals once did, that the death penalty is “not a Jewish issue.”

In the United States, the death penalty will only continue to become increasingly relevant for the Jewish community. Thursday’s mass lethal injection will occur on the heels of Florida’s double execution day last month and Texas’ recent celebration of its six hundredth execution of the modern era. States like these, along with the three executing states this week, are all within the American Bible Belt, which draws significant inspiration from its interpretation of a Christian tradition with undeniable Jewish roots. Christians often quote “eye for an eye,” or “God’s Will” to L’chaim members when seeking to justify their support of capital punishment. Now, more than ever, the world needs a reminder of the many reasons why 21st-century Jews can and should always oppose the death penalty.

“Death should never be the answer in a civilized society.” So stated death penalty abolitionist and spiritual forefather of L’chaim Prof. Elie Wiesel (1928-2016). The Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate added: “With every cell of my being and with every fiber of my memory, I oppose the death penalty in all forms.” May this republication help to remind Jews, Christians, and all across the world why the death penalty is, always, an abject abomination, and why we are so inclined to toast L’chaim – to Life!

Cantor Michael Zoosman

Co-Founder: L’chaim! Jews Against the Death Penalty

Advisory Committee Member, Death Penalty Action

“A Parshat Shof’tim D’var Torah Against the Death Penalty” (Delivered at Congregation Beth Israel, Vancouver, BC, August 19, 2023)

Shabbat Shalom! Thank you for this sacred opportunity to speak about capital punishment, which comes from a profound spiritual place for me. This topic is hard, and it speaks volumes about this congregation that you would agree to have me here to address it. We can indeed agree to disagree, and that is okay. Millenia ago, the Talmud often declared “Teiku!” from the Aramaic “Teikum,” meaning “Let it stand.” We absolutely can have a disagreement l’sheim shamayim – for the sake of heaven. And so, Kol Hakavod – all the honor – to you for bringing me here…

It so happens that just weeks ago the Jewish world witnessed the US federal government concluding one of the most relevant capital cases ever rendered for the American Jewish community. I refer, of course, to the federal death sentence given to Robert Bowers, the perpetrator of the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue, killing 11 martyrs, zichronam livracha – may their memories be for a blessing.

And it so happens that just as we have begun the repentance-laden month of Elul in the Jewish calendar, the next individual in line right now for execution in Texas, the most prolific American state killer, is Jedidiah Murphy, a Jewish man with dissociative identity disorder who has been my pen pal for years, and who the Lone Star state is scheduled to kill on World Day Against the Death Penalty, which is October 10th for the murder of 79yo Bertie Lee........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)