Torture and Justice

NYT-LONDON — A Spanish court has taken the first steps toward opening a criminal investigation into allegations that six former high-level Bush administration officials violated international law by providing the legal framework to justify the torture of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, an official close to the case said.

The seventh of the Seven Commandments given by God to the first human beings Adom and Chava and passed on to Noah before the flood is to make courts of law to administer justice. This last commandment given equally to all peoples of the earth involves four other commandments: prohibitions against murder, stealing and the protection of life both human and animal. There are many admonitions in the Torah against judges taking bribes or favoring the rich and powerful—justice must be performed without favor or even compassion.

The Cabala points out that this is the second of seven worlds which is related to the attribute of Gevorah/Severity; it is the job of the human being to sweeten the severity so we can go on to the third world of Teferit/Beauty.

Severity is sweetened by removing the essential evil who exploited this hard, but neutral attribute.