The Spoils of War
After learning how King Hezekiah spawned a golden-age of Torah literacy, we now return to the narrative of Sennacherib’s miraculous defeat—leaving behind spoils of great wealth to enable the religious renaissance. Surprisingly, the Jewish People seek prophetic guidance for propriety in pillaging. Isaiah invokes the image of locust harvesting in response. But, how can grasshopper gleaning become a source of an ethical code of conduct for collecting spoils? We touch on international law on ownership and the privilege of victors. Can people's legal rights simply be rinsed in a wave of conflict? (Talmud, Sanhedrin 94b)
| Related Text: | Sanhedrin 94b |
| Audio: | Listen to Audio | Download this MP3 |
| Topics: | Sanhedrin, Talmud |
Rabbi Mendel Kaplan is the Spiritual Leader and Executive Director of Chabad Flamingo in Thornhill, Ontario, serving one of Canada’s most dynamic Jewish communities. He also serves as Chaplain of the York Regional Police Service. He is an active member of Toronto’s Vaad HaRabbanim (Council of Orthodox Rabbis), and a voting member of the COR Kashruth Council of Canada’s executive rabbinical board. Rabbi Kaplan is featured regularly on many local television and radio shows. He is a sought after speaker, with hundreds of lectures on Chabad.org. He and his wife, Faygie, are blessed with eight children. Artistically endowed, the rabbi enjoys drawing, sketching and creating charcoal portraits.
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