1. Home
  2. Religion & Spirituality
  3. Judaism
Ask Rabbi Simmons
Death Penalty  
  Ask the Rabbi Pages
• Ask Rabbi Simmons Home
• 
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y Z

  Related Resources
• Introduction to Judaism
• Jewish Holidays
• Jewish Lifecycle Events
• Jewish How To Pages

Question

What are the Jewish views on the death penalty?

Answer

Judaism supports the death penalty, but only when there are at least two eyewitnesses who fully corroborate their testimony, and also that the criminal was warned beforehand that commiting this crime could result in the death penalty.

The Talmud says that in practice, the death penalty was administered by the Jewish court only once every several years.

 With blessings from Jerusalem,

Rabbi Shraga Simmons
Aish.com

More Answers from Rabbi Simmons

 

Subscribe to the Newsletter
Name
Email





Explore Judaism

More from About.com

  1. Home
  2. Religion & Spirituality
  3. Judaism
  4. ABC's of Judaism
  5. Ask the Rabbi Q&A
  6. Ask Orthodox Rabbis
  7. Orthodox FAQ: Simmons
  8. Death and Mourning
  9. Jewish Views on the Death Penalty

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.