(Though I would not celebrate the death of a fellow Jew, my hand is on the Champagne cork as we speak). (Actually, sparkling white wine. I don’t buy French products).

Bruriah the wife of Rabbi Meir once told her husband that he should pray for the “death of sin” rather than the “death of sinners”. This was in the context of a band of robbers in the area. He followed her advice and they did indeed repent and change their ways. However, as part of repentance a person must make restitution and obtain the forgiveness of the person that he has wronged.

In Jewish law the sincere repentance of a murderer is accepted and then he is executed. The effect of the repentence will come in the world to come when it might mitigate his punishment after his death. We can consider it as if the murderer must go to were his victim is in order to beg forgiveness.

As far as the specifics of the law, Jewish law differs from nonJewish law, the Seven (categories of) Laws of Noah. One of the seven laws is to set up a court system in order to enforce the other six.

Details of these laws can be found by a google search which point to Wikipedia, Chabad, JEWFAQ, usenet soc.culture.jewish and other Jewish and Noachide sites as well as some Xian missionary sites. However, this system of laws is not restricted by the limits imposed on Jewish courts.

While Jewish law requires that there be two eyewitnesses to the deed the king (as head of state) has the extrajudicial authority to put a murderer to death for “rebellion”. The Sanhedrin (Supreme Court) also has certain extrajudicial authority in order to maintain society. However, that is beyond the scope of this comment.

Jewish law forbids a Jewish court from accepting a confession as testimony. Unlike the U.S. fifth amendment which forbids coercing a confession, Jewish law forbids the court from acknowledging in any way that a confession was made. This applies only to nonmonetary crimes (like murder). A confession of a monetary crime (like theft) is treated as if the person confessing acknowledged a debt and has promised to repay it.

There are those who have said that if someone like Saddam Hussein would truly understand what he has done, the shock and horror would be so great that he would commit suicide. Thus we can say that his execution is merely allowing him to do what he would have done had he become sane.

In any case, we can be happy that he is getting his “just desserts” and sad that we are being forced into this necessary action.

I know about the part in the Torah where the angels were yelled at for celebrating the deaths of the Egyptians.

That’s not actually in Torah, though! It’s midrash. (Midrash Avkir,

It’s still an excellent interpretation, though!

Judge: Saddam to Be Executed by Saturday

http://apnews.myway.com//article/20061229/D8MAKV683.html

Heck, at this rate, it may be after Friday Evening News or sooner.

… or the nearest lamp post if they can wait that long…

I will download it, just in case it is ever deleted, and will post it on my blog when I hear that it has appeared.

chsw

Pushing up the ante, I know you’ve got to see me,
Read ’em and weep, the dead man’s hand again,
I see it in your eyes, take one look and die,
The only thing you see, you know it’s gonna be,
The Ace Of Spades
The Ace Of Spades

His end is VERY different from what happened to many of his regimes victims. One that come to mind is being put in a shredder feet first.

I recall someone here saying that in the Jewish tradition, it would be very rare that someone would be found guilty enough to be put to death.

I think this may be one of those cases… though I cannot speak for Jewish people.

Still, its not over yet as one of the lawyers on the prosecution (??) side mentioned that they should wait until after 30 days before executing him.

I actually agree with this statement as this could set a precedent for further executions to be too quick after a verdict (and the need for a cooling off period). Sure Saddam is very guilty, but his premature execution can be an opening for corruption if these executions occur too soon – especially if it a political issue and some people in power wants to get someone out of the way before certain truths come out later…

It is a medieval custom to dip one’s finger in the seder’s second cup of wine and to remove 16 drops of wine. As each plague is recited we decrease our own joy, drop by drop, as we recall the enemy’s pain. Besides the ten plagues, the extra six drops correspond to the three prophetic plagues mentioned by the prophet Joel–blood, fire, and smoke–and the three word abbreviation of the ten plagues invented by Rabbi Yehuda–d’tzach, adash, b’achab.

The spilling of the 16 drops has been understood traditionally in opposite ways. Either it signifies sympathy for the enemy Egyptians who suffered as a result of the painful process of liberating the Jews from Egyptian tyranny, or it reaffirms the righteous vengeance of God’s sword exercising judgment against a relentless, cruel, and stubborn oppressor.

I know about the part in the Torah where the angels were yelled at for celebrating the deaths of the Egyptians.

But I’m no angel. And I think there’s nothing wrong in being glad that a mass murderer, and the man who financed palestinian terrorist attacks on Israelis, is about to die.

Much of the current mess in Iraq can be laid squarely on his shoulders.

Sic semper tyrannis.