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Criminal JusticeText
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The meaning of kvod ha-adam [human dignity] is to not degrade and debase the image of God in the human being. Not every sort of harm to human dignity is included in the framework of the Basic law of human dignity and freedom. For example, [the law does not preclude] wounding the honor of an esteemed person, for whom it is fitting, according to his status, to sit only with others of his status and not with common people…Such harm is not considered degrading and debasing of the divine image, and it is not included in the framework of the basic law of human dignity and freedom.
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The reasonableness of a regulation…is determined by the good standards accepted by the majority of people in a democratic society and state of law, and there is none better and more accepted than basic respect for humans. A free and civilized society is distinguished from a barbaric and oppressive society by the degree to which it treats a human being as a human being. Lofty classic expression was given to this by the Mishnah: "…whosoever preserves a single soul – Scripture ascribes to him as though he had preserved an entire world…" (M. Sanhedrin 4:5)…
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The economic, political, moral, and physical factors being the microbes of crime, how does society meet the situation?
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Whatever [the judge] does should be for the sake of Heaven, and human dignity should not be light in the judge's eyes, since it overrides a Rabbinic prohibition. This applies with even greater force to the honor of the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who adhere to the true Law. The judge should be careful not to do anything to injure their dignity. The judge's sole concern should be to enhance the glory of God, for whoever dishonors the Torah is themselves dishonored by others, and whoever honors the Torah is themselves honored by others. [Rabbis for Human Rights. ובכל יהיו מעשיו לשם שמים ואל יהיה כבוד הבריות קל בעיניו שהרי הוא דוחה את לא תעשה של דבריהם וכל שכן בני אברהם יצחק ויעקוב המחזיקין בתורת האמת שיהיה זהיר שלא יהרס כבודם אלא להוסיף בכבוד המקום בלבד שכל המבזה את התורה גופו מחולל על הבריות והבכבד את התורה גופו מכובד על הבריות. 
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