- Torah and Jewish Thought
- Torah Teachings
Human sacrifice & Lev 27:29
Question
Lev 27:29 No one devoted, who is to be devoted for destruction from mankind, shall be ransomed; he shall surely be put to death.
Question: I have always been taught that the Torah teaches that Hashem outlawed human sacrifice. This is one way He set the nation of Israel apart from other nations that worshiped false gods and did require human sacrifice. So if Hashem does not allow or require human sacrifice, then this verse in the Torah confuses me. Can a rabbi provide some clarification for this verse? Toda Raba!!!!
Answer
It's always preferable to learn Hebrew and study the original text, for the source of many misunderstandings, like in this case, often go back to the mis-translation. The verse is referring to when there was capital punishment in the Sanhedrin (already abolished about 2,000 years ago), if a person was sentenced to death, for example for murder, he or someone else isn't allowed to "ransom" himself through a donation of money to the Holy Temple.

Musar
Rabbi David Sperling | Adar 16, 5781

Question about Parashat Emor
Rabbi David Sperling | Adar I 9, 5782

"Kabbalah" as Reference to Books of Nach
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 6 Iyyar 5766

Psalms 110:1
Rabbi Jonathan Blass | 26 Adar 5764

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Yericho conquest by Yehoshua
Tevet 28, 5771

Orla
Shevat 19, 5771

How to manage to not listen Loshon Hara?
Adar I 23, 5771

Gentile Prophets
Adar II 25, 5771

On which day may one start wishing "Shabbat Shalom"?
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 9, 5780

On which day may one start wishing "Shabbat Shalom"?
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 9, 5780
Genesis 24: 2-9 – Put your hand under my thigh
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Tevet 26, 5770

Mezzuzah for Non Jew
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 18, 5773
Gluten free challah.
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch | Iyyar 25, 5783
