Society Without Prison

The world is scared of truth. Scared people react with threats, always imparting their broken perspectives on the weak that follow because they lack trust in HaShem. Easier said than done, right! No, it is the cop out way to agree to disagree. The capitalist mentality that takes before giving. I was awaken to a truth HaShem asks of us to feed our animals before we feed ourselves. This concept like many of HaShems Mitzvah are perfectly orchestrated above the earth before HaShem gave Torah. He, blessed be the Name of HaShem, is perfect His Ways are perfect and He Loves His People Israel. Blessed are You HaShem who gave me brothers and sisters who love in Your light. I love You ABBA Reply

Societies have, and still do, through inequalities, suppression and many other types of injustices, created circumstances that have greatly fostered “criminals”. Rabbi Freeman, I really get what you express and glad you go there. I’ve the Rebbe’s book Social Vision as well. I agree that the systems which deal with the “end-product”, i.e. the “criminal”, are broken and don’t work, but we very much need to address how/why various social structures are greatly responsible for many individuals becoming “criminals” in the first place, otherwise even with better “criminal” systems, we’d just be treating symptoms and not the cause. Reply

I like many of Torah’s alternatives to prison. Where the offender can be rehabilitated and the victim can be made whole, Torah-like remedies make a lot of sense. And, in many ways, they’re being used increasingly these days. But other Torah punishments, including death for so many offenses? Not so sure there’s much regard for human dignity in them. Plus, there are many offenders in our world who appear largely incapable of being rehabilitated and who would be clearly dangerous to the innocent. What would you do with them? Prison is not a perfect system. Hardly. But in certain cases it’s a lot easier to criticize its imperfections than it is to propose solid and likely-to-be-successful alternatives. Reply

Obviously Rabbi you have never been in prison. I have and its not all bad. In fact I had a very interesting and thankfully short time when I was in jail. I encountered a man from a religious family who still remembered some of the psalms and sung them so perfectly and well that my life changed! To a small degree we are all slightly in jail through the limitations we have through ourselves of our relationship with society. "The mind is its own place and in itself can make a heaven of hell--a hell of heaven." John Milton. Reply

The modern day psychopath and sociopath must be incarcerated. Maybe the many Torah statements about death penalty (but the restriction on Mankind not to kill) could be construed as a prison sentence option. If prison=death by its imposed futility. Maybe prison should be a place of Torah study to sow seeds in these hardened hearts for HaShem to grow? Byt certainly dangerous offenders must be restrained from continuing to harm others. Reply

Prison Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Freeman Oct.2018 parshas נח That was great. The way a ring's imprint shows how to truly be. Reply

So what do we do with adults who violate and abuse children or those who murder? Reply

When on a time-out, reflect. A prison exists in thoughts of no purpose, but thoughts animated become purpose. For the nights repairs the day’s actions so they may both add everlasting purpose. We should always smile to see our shadow, for this is truly a remainder of who the image is made from. Reply

prison This is exactly right. We leave heaven and the wonderment of G-d to come to this earthly time and place for one purpose - to change darkness to light, to change the world around us for good. When we do not do this, we have imprisoned ourselves. Reply