Pidyon Shvuyim
Encyclopedia
The Mitzvah
of Pidyon Shvuyim is to bring about the release of any Jew held captive by gentiles. It is considered an important commandment in the Jewish Halakha
.
“One does not ransom captives for more than their value because of Tikkun Olam
(literally: “fixing the world”; for the good order of the world; as a precaution for the general good) and one does not help captives escape because of Tikkun Olam.” (Mishna, Gittin 4:6)
One of the aims of this restriction is to avoid encouraging kidnappers, or those seeking financial gain by capturing Jews and demanding a Kofer
(a ransom
) in exchange, due to the knowledge of how sensitive Jews are to rescuing their prisoners at any price. There are certain instances in which this restriction does not apply, such as when a man wishes to pay an excessive sum for his freedom, or when the prisoner is a Talmid Chacham
, or when a husband is attempting to earn the freedom of his wife (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 252:4).
A prominent example of the practice of this restriction in reality was the affair of the arrest of Rabbi
Meir of Rothenburg
, a Gadol
of Ashkenazi Jewry in the 13th Century, who is said to have forbidden his pidyon from prison citing the aforementioned restriction, despite the fact that according to the Halakha
it was permitted to pay a substantial sum for his release.
Another restriction is that if a person repeatedly causes his own capture time after time, a pidyon is no longer required after the third time. This refers to a situation in which a person has sold himself, or has been taken to prison due to a crime committed intentionally. This restriction only applies when the life of the captive is not in danger; if his captors desire to kill him, a pidyon is mandatory.
, when captured Israeli soldiers are to be liberated or exchanged for Palestinian
prisoners.
In April 2010, several American and Canadian haredi rabbi
s from different Jewish sects released a public pronouncement (Kol Koreh), asking for Pidyon Shvuyim on behalf of former kosher meat
plant Agriprocessors
′ top manager Sholom Rubashkin
, a Lubavitcher Hasid
, awaiting sentencing after being convicted on 86 charges of financial fraud in November 2009 by a Federal Court in Iowa
, U.S.A.
Mitzvah
The primary meaning of the Hebrew word refers to precepts and commandments as commanded by God...
of Pidyon Shvuyim is to bring about the release of any Jew held captive by gentiles. It is considered an important commandment in the Jewish Halakha
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
.
Source
- The TalmudTalmudThe Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
calls Pidyon Shvuyim a “Mitzvah rabbah”, a great mitzvah, as captivity is viewed as even worse than starvation and death (Bava Batra 8b).
- Maimonides writes: “The redeeming of captives takes precedence over supporting the poor or clothing them. There is no greater mitzvah than redeeming captives for the problems of the captive include being hungry, thirsty, unclothed, and they are in danger of their lives too. Ignoring the need to redeem captives goes against these Torah laws: “Do not harden your heart or shut your hand against your needy fellow” (DevarimDevarimDevarim is a Hebrew word, which is the second word of the book of Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Torah . It means "Words".When used as a noun, Devarim might refer to:...
15:7); “Do not stand idly by while your neighbor’s blood is shed” (VayikraVayikraVayikra is a Hebrew word, which is the first word of the book of Leviticus, the third book of the Torah . It means "And He called".When used as a noun, Vayikra might refer to:...
19:16). And misses out on the following mitzvot: “You must surely open your hand to him or her” (DevarimDevarimDevarim is a Hebrew word, which is the second word of the book of Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Torah . It means "Words".When used as a noun, Devarim might refer to:...
15:8); “...Love your neighbor as yourself” (VayikraVayikraVayikra is a Hebrew word, which is the first word of the book of Leviticus, the third book of the Torah . It means "And He called".When used as a noun, Vayikra might refer to:...
19:18); “Rescue those who are drawn to death” (ProverbsBook of ProverbsThe Book of Proverbs , commonly referred to simply as Proverbs, is a book of the Hebrew Bible.The original Hebrew title of the book of Proverbs is "Míshlê Shlomoh" . When translated into Greek and Latin, the title took on different forms. In the Greek Septuagint the title became "paroimai paroimiae"...
24:11) and there is no mitzvah greater than the redeeming of captives.” (Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Matanot Aniyim 8:10-11)
- The Shulchan AruchShulchan AruchThe Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
adds: “Every moment that one delays in freeing captives, in cases where it is possible to expedite their freedom, is considered to be tantamount to murder.” (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 252:3)
Limitations in the Practice of the Mitzvah
Despite the importance of the Mitzvah, it should be performed within a number of boundaries, the most significant of which is:“One does not ransom captives for more than their value because of Tikkun Olam
Tikkun olam
Tikkun olam is a Hebrew phrase that means "repairing the world." In Judaism, the concept of tikkun olam originated in the early rabbinic period...
(literally: “fixing the world”; for the good order of the world; as a precaution for the general good) and one does not help captives escape because of Tikkun Olam.” (Mishna, Gittin 4:6)
One of the aims of this restriction is to avoid encouraging kidnappers, or those seeking financial gain by capturing Jews and demanding a Kofer
Kofer
Kofer is a Hebrew word, with several meanings:* Kofer-nefesh ."The price of a life", "a ransom", compared to Teutonic Weregild....
(a ransom
Ransom
Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or it can refer to the sum of money involved.In an early German law, a similar concept was called bad influence...
) in exchange, due to the knowledge of how sensitive Jews are to rescuing their prisoners at any price. There are certain instances in which this restriction does not apply, such as when a man wishes to pay an excessive sum for his freedom, or when the prisoner is a Talmid Chacham
Talmid Chacham
Talmid Chacham is an honorific title given to one well versed in Jewish law, in effect, a Torah scholar....
, or when a husband is attempting to earn the freedom of his wife (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 252:4).
A prominent example of the practice of this restriction in reality was the affair of the arrest of Rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
Meir of Rothenburg
Meir of Rothenburg
Meir of Rothenburg was a German Rabbi and poet, a major author of the tosafot on Rashi's commentary on the Talmud...
, a Gadol
Gadol
Gadol or godol גדול , is a Hebrew term used mostly by Haredi Litvish Jews to refer to the most revered rabbis of their generation. These rabbis are usually held in high esteem by other Haredi or Orthodox Jews, though not necessarily to the same degree as by Litvish Jews...
of Ashkenazi Jewry in the 13th Century, who is said to have forbidden his pidyon from prison citing the aforementioned restriction, despite the fact that according to the Halakha
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
it was permitted to pay a substantial sum for his release.
Another restriction is that if a person repeatedly causes his own capture time after time, a pidyon is no longer required after the third time. This refers to a situation in which a person has sold himself, or has been taken to prison due to a crime committed intentionally. This restriction only applies when the life of the captive is not in danger; if his captors desire to kill him, a pidyon is mandatory.
Present
The question of Pidyon Shvuyim, and particularly the amount of ransom to be paid, is a controversial issue in IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, when captured Israeli soldiers are to be liberated or exchanged for Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
prisoners.
In April 2010, several American and Canadian haredi rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
s from different Jewish sects released a public pronouncement (Kol Koreh), asking for Pidyon Shvuyim on behalf of former kosher meat
Kosher foods
Kosher foods are those that conform to the regulations of the Jewish Halakhic law framework, kosher meaning fit or allowed to be eaten. A list of some kosher foods are found in the book of Leviticus 11:1-47. There are also certain kosher rules found there...
plant Agriprocessors
Agriprocessors
Agriprocessors was the corporate identity of a slaughterhouse and meat-packaging factory based in Postville, Iowa, best known as a facility for the glatt kosher processing of cattle, as well as chicken, turkey, duck, and lamb. Agriprocessors' meat and poultry products were marketed under the brand...
′ top manager Sholom Rubashkin
Sholom Rubashkin
Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin , an ultra-Orthodox Jew of the Lubavitcher Hasidic movement, is a former executive officer and vice president of Agriprocessors, a now-bankrupt slaughterhouse and meat packing plant in Postville, Iowa formerly owned by his father, Aaron Rubashkin...
, a Lubavitcher Hasid
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
, awaiting sentencing after being convicted on 86 charges of financial fraud in November 2009 by a Federal Court in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, U.S.A.