Letter to the Editor: Kidnap Or Theft?.Comments (0)

Kidnap Or Theft?

Regarding the recent cover story “Yesterday And Today” on the Ten Commandments. The commandment “Thou shalt not steal” does not refer to not taking what doesn’t belong to you. That is covered elsewhere in our commandments.

In our daily morning services principles are stated for interpreting our commandments. One states that if a commandment is not specific, it must be taken in its context. “Thou shalt not steal” is right up there with prohibitions against murder, adultery, bearing false witness, coveting, etc.—all capital offenses. The only way “stealing” could be a capital offense would be if you stole a person, which would be kidnapping.

Paul P. Botwinik
Baltimore