The Cities of Refuge and Restorative Justice - Rabbi Denise Eger

[The process of the sanctuary cities] opens the door to a notion of our time: restorative justice. We might envision that the cities of refuge for those who committed manslaughter constitute a first step in the restorative justice process. The ir miklat, "sheltering city," could be a place where the victim-in the case of manslaughter, the victim's family and perpetrator are able to meet without the associated pressures of lex talionis.

What if those found guilty of accidental homicide were commanded to sit down with the family of their victim and with tribal leaders to listen to the pain, the loss, the grief, and the sadness of both parties? In the biblical system of justice, the blood-avenger is charged with killing the individual found guilty of murder. What might it look like if the blood-avenger were instead commanded to engage in a process of restorative justice?

Restorative justice, unlike a punitive system, seeks to repair the harm caused by a crime by bringing together victims, perpetrators, and community members. It emphasizes holding perpetrators accountable and allowing for the processing of feelings, harm done, and the very Jewish ideal of t'shuvah.