- Why is slavery (or indentured servitude) not simply eliminated?
- Does the TorahRefers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, also called the Five Books of Moses, Pentateuch or the Hebrew equivalent, Humash. This is also called the Written Torah. The term may also refer to teachings that expound on Jewish tradition. favor servitude as a perpetual economic mode?
- What distinguishes killing from murder?
- Is there any way that a murderer can escape the consequences of destroying a life?
- Why is the punishment for striking a parent so severe?
- Does the Torah assume that society will be without strife?
- How is the “law of retaliation” (Exodus 21:23-25) to be understood — literally?
- Is the law of retaliation “vengeance” or equity?
- What is the owner’s responsibility for his property?
- What is a guardian’s responsibility for another’s property?
- Does this particular portion indicate that, with the preceding general statements (as with any general statement), specifics are required?
- As originally projected in the Abraham narrative (Sedom), does tzedek resurface here as the basic determinant of the legislation?
- And if so, does tzedek relate to all aspects of daily living?
- Indeed, is there any area of human affairs which does not benefit from the norm of tzedek?
- These specific regulations deal with the “here and now”; is the implication that legislation, to be effective, cannot be Utopian?
- Do these regulations make it clear that, to be effective, they must be enforced or they will be meaningless?
- Do the regulations indicate that not everyone will follow the way of tzedek because it is justice and, accordingly, punishment for the violator is necessary?
- Does the text indicate that specifics are so vital that, although Mosheh communicates them, they actually derive from Divinity to give them basic authority?
