Exodus 23:2 "You shall not follow the majority to do evil"

Sarah's class was planning a Lag Ba'Omer outing and the choice was between miniature golfing and boating.

The class decided to vote where they wanted to go.

The vote was very close; boating won by only one vote!

Sarah wanted to go golfing, but she knew that she must accept the class's decision.

She was disappointed and asked her teacher:

"Could we please vote just one more time on the outing?

We only needed two more votes and the class would have gone golfing."

"Right, Sarah," the teacher answered, "but majority rules.

It's not so bad. Boating is fun and we'll have a great time."

"You know, class," the teacher continued, "in our case we were deciding on where to go for an outing.

"It's an important issue, but I'm sure you all agree it's not a matter of life and death! So one vote is enough to create a majority.

"But imagine a court case when a person's life is at stake!

"If convicted, he would be sentenced to death. Each judge must decide carefully and then, vote on the verdict."

In other court cases, the majority wins, but because this is a life and death case, the Torah does not allow a majority of only one vote to sentence the guilty person to death. Then, a majority of at least two votes is necessary.