Incarceration: Reform or Abuse? (Vayeishev)

Is prison ever a legitimate form of punishment in Jewish law? Does confinement achieve justice, or does it obscure it? This class explores the Torah’s approach to imprisonment, why it was rarely used, and how it differs from the cities of refuge. Discover how Judaism balances justice, protection, and moral growth, and why true punishment in Torah thought restores a person rather than merely restricts them. Learn when exile, temporary detention, or extra-legal measures were permitted—and how these tools serve society without undermining human potential.