Should Moshe's killing of the Egyptian taskmaster ( http://alhatorah.org/Moshe%27s_Killing_of_the_Egyptian ) be understood as a righteous championing of the oppressed or an overly harsh act of vigilante justice?  Did the Egyptian really deserve to die simply for smiting the Hebrew slave under his command?  And if he did, why did Moshe not have him punished through regular judicial procedures?  In general, what circumstances allow for, or perhaps even mandate, taking the law into one's own hands? This Torahcast, brought to you by ALHATORAH.ORG, featuring Neima Novetsky, explores these questions and more.