1. Exodus 21:37; Leviticus 5:24; Maimonides, Laws of Stolen Property, ch. 1
2. Leviticus 4; Maimonides, Laws of Transgressions, chs. 1-8
3. Leviticus 20:2, 14; Deuteronomy 25:3; Maimonides, Sanhedrin, chs. 15, 17
4. Exodus 12:15.
5. The "Torah" is accepted by observant Jews as a collection of Divinely-inspired 613 commandments found in the Written Law (the five books of Moses (The Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) and derivative precepts expounded in the Oral Law (contained in writings such as the Talmud, the Code of Jewish Law ("Shulchan Arukh") and later rabbinic rulings) (collectively, the "Mitzvot" or "Halacha"). The Torah comprises the entire code of Jewish conduct—civil law, religious law, ritual law and ethical behavior. While many rulings in Torah law are expounded by later rabbinic authorities, the lessons taught are believed to exceed even the stature of their teachers. The very first paragraph of the first chapter of the Talmud’s tractate Avot states: "Moses received the Torah from Sinai and transmitted it . . ." Except for clearly-delineated original edicts imposed by rabbinical courts under exceptional circumstances — always to protect existent Torah rulings and never to contradict them — all Torah rulings and traditions are accepted to have originated no less at Sinai than did the Ten Commandments. Judaism melds ethics and morality with ritual and civil law into the total code of behavior contained in the Torah, expounded by the Sages and embodied in practice into a living expression of G-d’s Will. The eternal nature of the Torah is expressed in the belief that no religious law may be abrogated, eliminated or compromised. The original 613 precepts and ancillary rules remain in force and are followed wherever possible by observant Jews even in modern times and circumstances.
6. Genesis 39:20.
7. Jeremiah 37:15-16, 38:4-14.
8. Talmud Pesachim 91a; Talmud Yoma 11a; Talmud Sanhedrin 81b.
9. Maimonides, Laws of Rotze’ach ch. 4 § 8; Laws of Sanhedrin ch. 18 §§ 4-5.
10. Tur, Choshen Mishpat 2, Tur, Choshen Mishpat 93, no. 13.
11. Halakhot Pesukot min Ha-ge'onim No. 135, Responsa Ribash 348; Rashba, vol. 2, Responsa 276, Responsa Rosh 52:8.
12. See Elon, Herut ha-Perat, 172, 180-225.
13. Genesis 39:20.
14. Jeremiah 37:15-16; 38:4-14.
15. Numbers 15:34.
16. Talmud Sanhedrin 81, 2; Maimonides, Laws of Rotze’ach ch. 4 § 8; Laws of Sanhedrin ch. 18 §§ 4-5.
17. Exodus 21:2; Maimonides, Laws of Slaves, ch. 1.
18. Maimonides, Laws of Slaves, ch. 9.
19. Numbers 35: 9-34.
20. Numbers 35, 9-34; Maimonides, Laws of the Sabbatical Year, ch. 13; Laws of Rotze’ach, ch. 8.
21. Deuteronomy 4:42; See Likutei Sichos by Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, Portion of Va’eschannan, 5745.
22. Talmud Makkoth 2:2, Encyclopedia Talmudit at 123.
23. When Jewish law was not dominant, certain authoritative codifiers sanctioned imprisonment as a deterrent and to protect society. See, e.g., Sefer ha-Aguddah, Shabbos No. 150; Responsa Ribash No. 484; Responsa Maharash dam, Choshen Mishpat No. 390; and Rema, Choshen Mishpat 97:15. They endorsed punishments that were foreign to original Jewish law on one of two grounds. First, that Jewish law required one to "eradicate the evil from your midst" (Deuteronomy 13:6; 17:7; 19:19; 21:21), even when Torah law could not be enforced. See, e.g., Maimonides, Laws of Rotze’ach ch. 4:8-9; Laws of Sanhedrin ch. 24a). Others relied on the dictate "the law of the land is the law." Talmud Nedarim 28a; Talmud Gittin 106; Talmud Baba Kamma 113a; Talmud Baba Batra 54b. Even under these circumstances there were authorities who continued to prohibit the use of jails within Jewish communities. See Responsa Rosh No. 78:3; Responsa Rashba, vol. 1, No. 1069; Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 97:15.
24. Talmud Shabbos 77b; Bereishis Rabba 44:1, 10:7.
25. Talmud Berachos 60b; Likutei Torah Nasso 25c.
26. Likutei Amarim Tanya, ch. 24.
27. Talmud Sanhedrin, 23a.
28. Likutei Amarim Tanya, Igeret Ha’Teshuvah, ch. 2.
29. Likutei Amarim Tanya, ch. 36; Tanchuma Nasso 7, 1.
30. Deuteronomy 11,13; Likutei Amarim Tanya, ch. 37.
31. Talmud Avodah Zorah, 3a.
32. Talmud Nedarim 28a; Talmud Gittin 106; Talmud Baba Kamma 113a; Talmud Baba Batra 54b.
33. Kesser Shem Tov 127-129.
34. Maimonides, Laws of Rotze’ach, ch. 6.
35. Maimonides, Laws of Rotze’ach, ch. 7:1.
36. Id.
37. Deuteronomy 4:42.
38. Maimonides, Laws of Rotze’ach, ch. 7:1.
39. Maimonides, Laws of Repentance; Likutei Amarim Tanya, Igeret Ha’ Teshuvah, ch. 1.
40. Id.
41. Rabah Vayikra 13:3; Rabah Bereishis 44:1.
42. Eccl. 2:13; Zohar.
43. Ethics of the Fathers 6:2.
44. Maimonides, Laws of Kings, ch. 8.

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