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Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 11:27:28 -0500 (EST)
From: Russell Hendel <  rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Subject: Re: Goring Ox

Matthew Sholler (Bais Medrash V1 #68) asks (1) Why a goring ox is STONED
(Vs other methods of execution) (2) Why the ox is "judged" by a court

I don't have an answer to the 1st question but the answer to the 2nd
question is given in the Talmud which suggests two possible reasons.

My favorite approach is that >  >  the ox is executed out of respect for the
person who sinned with it. This way people will not say...'there goes the
ox that so and so sinned with'<  <

This answer is of course consistent with Judaism's humanitarian approach

Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA
Rhendel @ mcs drexel edu

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