I'm reviewing the course Halacha 101 taught by Rabbi Bernestein and I have a question connected to a question one of the students in his live class asked about a person that has done wrong & been punished by the court, does Hashem still punish them? Rabbi said No cause they were punished by the court & things have been fixed.
My questions is: Is Rabbi saying that people who murder & commit other horrible crimes & are in prison won't be judged by HASHEM because our courts already punished them? Especially if they haven't really repented of their crimes & asked HASHEM for forgiveness.? Most criminals don't repent & ask HASHEM for forgiveness.
Q. My questions is: Is Rabbi saying that people who murder & commit other horrible crimes & are in prison won't be judged by HASHEM because our courts already punished them?
Answer: No. They are not forgiven by sitting in jail. The reason is that only by Torah punishment can one be forgiven. Since the current courts do not set their judgment according to Noahide laws it does not aton their sin.
Rabbi Moshe Bernstein