The headline of an article published at the Times of Israel a couple of days ago caught my eye.
Father of alleged Otniel killer: ‘Why should I be punished for what he did?’
http://www.timesofisrael.com/father-of-alleged-otniel-killer-why-should-i-be-punished-for-what-he-did/
A comment posted under the artcle referred readers to a verse in Yechezkel 18:20
20.The soul that sins, it shall die; a son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, and a father shall not bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
I was puzzled by the seeming disparity with part of a verse found in this week's parsha of Yitro(20:5) in which G-d is described to as, "Who visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons, upon the third and the fourth generation of those who hate Me."
An elucidating writing about the topic can be found in Hebrew over here.
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This week's parsha of Yitro relates the giving of the Torah to the people of Israel. Below is what the Lubavitcher Rebbe said about Torah study.
"iniquity of the son..."
ReplyDeleteSins generally do not carry down if the children are righteous. If one sins however, then the sins of their parents can also hold weight.