S.A.L.T. - Tuesday

          Yesterday we discussed the halakha of the "ben sorer u-moreh," the wayward son, which the Torah introduces towards the beginning of Parashat Ki-Teitzei (21:18-21). The Torah calls upon the parents to bring their son to the local rabbinical court which then executes the delinquent. As we saw yesterday, the Gemara (71a) observes that such a case never actually occurred; the conditions that must be met for this halakha to be implemented make it virtually impossible for it to ever happen. Nevertheless, the Gemara explains, the Torah presents such a scenario because "derosh ve-kabeil sekhar" – we receive reward for studying and analyzing the halakhot. Today we will present a different approach to understanding the fundamental message underlying this halakha, based on the analysis of Rav Yaakov Moshe Lessin, in his "Derekh Chayim."

         The Gemara (Sanhedrin 72a), cited by Rashi (to verse 18), comments that the wayward son is killed "because of his future."  Meaning, the Torah foresees that a youngster with the "credentials" to qualify as a halakhically-defined "ben sorer u-moreh" will ultimately become a criminal and prove harmful to society. It therefore prevented this outcome by calling for the youngster's execution. 

         As mentioned, such a case never really happened. Nobody has ever reached such a point during his youth that he was beyond correction, that there remained no hope at all for his ever becoming a productive member of society. However, the institution of ben sorer u-moreh serves as an extreme model of a less extreme, common phenomenon – one which in fact applies to each and every one of us. For one thing, this halakha shows the damage caused by sin, the process of moral degeneration it can trigger. If the Torah determines that a child who commits certain crimes will reach the point beyond return, then sinful conduct must have the capacity to push the violator further and further away from the proper path. Although practically, it never occurred that a youngster reached the point where we despair from his future, the basic theory remains: each act of wrongdoing makes it more difficult for a person to correct himself. Additionally, in light of this basic fact, Providence will, at times, intervene in an individual's life to either alert him of his process of deterioration or prevent him from wrongdoing. Generally unbeknownst to us, many painful experiences in our lives help mold our character and help us grow. In the extreme model of the "ben sorer u-moreh," the Torah ends the boy's life before he has a chance to deteriorate. In the less extreme, more common instances, God somehow brings us into certain situations to help us address our faults, build our character, and grow.

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