[Avodah] lifnei iver/kanaus

[Richard Wolpoe]

On 9/30/07, Micha Berger <micha at aishdas.org> wrote:
>
>
>
> In a culture which defines morality in terms of rights, we do not take to
> negative reinforcement the way people have for most of human history.
> We like the carrot, but chafe under the stick. Rather than Shelomo
> haMelekh's rod (as generally understood, not as RSW explains it) causing
> positive change, it sparks rebellion.
>
>
>
> Tir'u baTov!
> -mi


The Talmud/SA tells us that we may not hit a child past a certain age [15
iirc] because he might hit you back and you would thereby trangress lifnei
iver...on an issur of misas beis din no less.

Granted, that there are exceptions, neverthless I would posit that corporal
punishment has not worked effectively [as a rule] for about 2,000 years or
more.  Anyone learning "Elu hein Halokin will notice that the way malkus is
practiced it is more about shaming, embarrassing, and stimgatizing, then
about inflicting physical pain.

Captains that were heavy-handed with whipping could trigger a mutiny, e.g.
Bligh.

My favorite Talmudic form of discipline is a dirty look. Apparently Rabbi
Yochanan mastered that technique --smile--

-
Gmar Tov
Best Wishes for 5768,
RabbiRichWolpoe at Gmail.com
Please Visit:
http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/
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