Face Masks & The Hostage Dilemma

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

(Recorded live in Atlanta on May 18, 2020)

How do we balance the right of individuals to choose their own way with the right of the larger group to protect its interests? Can the state mandate that I wear a face mask or shut my business? How about seat belt and motorcycle helmet laws? Can law enforcement force Apple to compromise the security of its phones to potentially gain information related to an investigation?

We look at the interest tension between individualism and collectivism through the lens of the classic hostage dilemma. Should a community or government pay an exorbitant ransom to obtain the release of one of its own? On a private citizen or family member be permitted to pay the ransom?

This session compares and contrasts U.S. law and Jewish law on the matter, and comes to some very important inclusions.