Actually the Mishneh interpretation is more reasonable. I understood the cutting off of the hand to be punishment, not prevention. I am also glad to see that this is law by example and that the grabber could be male or female and the organ any that might be deemed to be life threatening.
In the light of this explanation I'd expect that the instruction to "cut off the hand and show no mercy" is more to communicate the urgency and immediacy of the required action - in order to save a life.
Therefore, subject to the accuracy of the interpretation I am a lot more comfortable with the whole thing. It almost seems reasonable - if a little over zealous.
Halacha 9 is even more interesting (the link to the page for those who cannot be bothered to scroll up http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cd...er-One.htm )
Permission to abort a foetus if the mother's life is in danger. Who knew that was in there?
In the light of this explanation I'd expect that the instruction to "cut off the hand and show no mercy" is more to communicate the urgency and immediacy of the required action - in order to save a life.
Therefore, subject to the accuracy of the interpretation I am a lot more comfortable with the whole thing. It almost seems reasonable - if a little over zealous.
Halacha 9 is even more interesting (the link to the page for those who cannot be bothered to scroll up http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cd...er-One.htm )
Permission to abort a foetus if the mother's life is in danger. Who knew that was in there?
