Is It Fair to Compare to ISIS?

Hello,

How is Judaism different from ISIS, which also kills for not following the way of God?

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Greetings,

The behavior of those Arabs is not the way of the Torah, which is described as being ways of pleasantness and paths of peace.

The Sages said that Jews are compassionate, modest, and perform kindnesses. The Torah states "and He will give you mercy, and have mercy upon you" - Hashem acts with mercy, and does not aim to punish. The Sages remarked that a court which executed someone even once in seventy years was called a "murderous court," as it was so rare. The Tanaim said of themselves that if they were judges in court, they would never have executed anyone! (Talmud Makot, page 7a).

First, to avoid mistakes - Judaism has not permitted executing anyone for over two thousand years. Even before that, the Talmud notes that a court executing someone once in seventy years was called a murderous court (!), and execution required 23 judges to judge a person (!), a formal warning just before committing the crime (!), a confession from the sinner intending to rebel (!), two reliable witnesses, and evidence.

Thus, Jewish laws are not similar to those of Christians or Muslims, who historically killed indiscriminately and burned women as "witches," acting on cruel leaders' whims. Judaism is not like that, as it is said "ways of pleasantness and paths of peace." Hence, the prophet says in the name of Hashem (Ezekiel, chapter 18): "Do I desire at all the death of the wicked? says Hashem God, is it not rather in his returning from his ways that he might live," and "for I do not desire the death of anyone who dies, declares Hashem."

Nevertheless, keeping the commandments is not simple, as the prophet said in the name of Hashem (Jeremiah, chapter 33, verse 25): "Thus says Hashem, if not for My covenant day and night, I would not put the order of heaven and earth." The world exists for the purpose of humanity, and failing to fulfill it may lead to the world's destruction. Yet we see that saving a life overrides Shabbat, even a possibility of saving a life does. Given these points, it's clear that death was always a last resort in Judaism. In fact, capital punishment laws are so intricate in Judaism that it's hard to believe such executions were ever carried out. Some of the laws seem to have been given as "warning signs," showing the seriousness of sins to encourage people to avoid them.

Please search for the booklet "Critical Dialogue" on Google. This booklet will teach you the difference between the Torah and all other religions in the world.

Yours sincerely,

Daniel Bels