Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 01:43:31 -0500 (EST)
From: Russell Hendel <  rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Subject: Re: Violence In The Torah?

QUESTION:
<  <  I am having a difficult time understanding why the Torah exhibits so much
apparent violence and cruelty?>  >

ANSWER:
I saw a beautiful citation by the great Mideval Jewish philosopher and
commentator, Ralbag (Gersonidees) who said "The mercy to the wicked is
cruelty to the righteous".

For example: Pharoh literally slaughtered Jewish babies so he could bathe
in Jewish blood. To have mercy on him would have been cruel to all these
babies.

In passing I note the statistic that 40% of those going to the holocost
museum do not believe that 'such things happened'. In a similar manner the
reason most people are shocked when G-d punishes people is because they are
shocked that people can be so wicked.

Hope this helps.

Russell Hendel; Phd ASA
Moderator Rashi Is Simple, http://www.shamash.org/rashi/