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This is a very strange halacha. Once the action upon which his conviction is based already took place, what point is there to pray for a positive outcome? Perhaps he really deserves conviction, and there is nothing to do! The answer seems to be based on Tosafot (Makkot 7a). Tosafot posits that there are questions beit din does not have to ask witnesses, but if they ask and the witnesses do not know the answer, the defendant is not sentenced. The rationale behind this halacha is the idea of "the congregation will save him" (Bamidbar 35:25), based on which even with a small possibility of merit, we do not sentence a defendant in capital cases.
We can now understand the statements of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Tarfon and Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel (Makkot 1:10). The former two said that had they been in Sanhedrin, no one would ever have been convicted [because they would have found remote grounds for dismissing the conviction]. The latter said that had they done so, they would have increased murderers in Israel. Rabbi Akiva did not mean to invalidate convictions made by Sanhedrin. Rabban Shimon did not think that Rabbi Akiva’s system of exempting was invalid, for, if so, he would not have had to given a side reason of increasing murderers. So what was their dispute about?
Rabbi Akiva felt that one could ask questions that the witnesses would not be able to answer and in that way force an acquittal. Rabban Shimon reasoned that while one could force an acquittal in that way, it would be detrimental to society to make that happen. Rabbi Akiva probably agreed that if the state of society were such that creating acquittals would increase murderers he would have agreed not to do so. He just believed that Sanhedrin could improve the situation in a manner that precluded the danger of increased murder. We see then that only in societies where bloodshed is taken as seriously as it should would we encourage extricating the accused from punishments.
Now we can understand the gemara about the kohen gadol’s prayers. The fact that the effort was not made to get the murderer off on a loophole is an indication that the moral standing of the nation at the time of the sentencing was not what it should have been. For that we hold the kohen gadol responsible enough that his death is needed to free the unintentional murderer. How powerful is the message of a leader’s responsibility?!
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
