12. [Gladiator] "And I Will Have My Vengeance" - Does Judaism Allow For Revenge? (With Rabbi Benzion Klatkzo)

In this episode, Rabbi Benzion Klatzko joins us in investigating whether taking revenge is an ideal to strive for in Jewish thinking.

As background, Maximus Decimus Meridius is a loyal Roman general who leads the empire to victory in battle under Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The emperor, disillusioned with his corrupt son Commodus, chooses Maximus as his successor, believing he will restore Rome to a republic and return power to the Senate.

When Commodus learns of this, he murders Marcus Aurelius and seizes the throne. Maximus refuses to pledge loyalty to him, prompting Commodus to order Maximus’s execution and the murder of his wife and son. Maximus escapes but is too late to save his family, finding their bodies crucified and burned.

Stricken with grief and rage, Maximus collapses and is captured by slave traders. He is sold to a gladiator trainer and becomes a powerful fighter in the arena. As his fame grows, he is brought to Rome to fight in the Colosseum, where he comes face-to-face with Commodus once again.

Though Maximus initially fights to survive, his ultimate goal becomes revenge: to killCommodus and avenge his family. He hides his identity at first, but eventually reveals himself,
famously declaring, “My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.”

As he gains public favor, Maximus becomes a political threat. Commodus tries to have him killed, but Maximus’s legend only grows. In the climax, Commodus challenges Maximus to a rigged duel. Although wounded and dying, Maximus defeats Commodus—finally achieving his revenge.

With his dying breath, Maximus ensures the restoration of Marcus Aurelius’s vision for Rome before collapsing. His revenge is complete, but it costs him his life.

This leads us into the following questions:

1. Generally speaking, the Torah prohibits revenge (Leviticus 19:18: “You shall not take revenge nor bear a grudge”). Why is this prohibition so central, and how does it apply to situations like Maximus’s?
2. Looking at our situation more closely, the revenge here has more to do with a blood debt than a simple "tit for tat" form of revenge. Commodus murdered Maximus’ wife and son! Maximus is seeking revenge for his murdered family. This seems different than the “taking revenge or bearing a grudge” - is it, in fact, different?
3. “Vengeance is Mine” (Devarim 32:35) – The Torah says vengeance belongs to God. Does this mean that personal revenge, even in the face of deep injustice, is always morally wrong?
4. Can Maximus’ desire for revenge be seen as a pursuit of justice, or is it purely personal vengeance? How would Jewish ethics distinguish between the two?

These are some of our questions. Let's see what the Torah has to say.

 

I am excited to welcome Rabbi Benzion Klatzko to this episode to answer our questions. Rabbi Klatzko is an ordained rabbi, a music producer, a published author, and a radio talk show host. Dubbed the “Hollywood Rabbi,” for years Rabbi Klatzko delivered a popular monthly class in Jewish thought to many of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Rabbi Klatzko is one of the national directors for Jewish life on campus in North America and was named “One of America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis” by the Jewish Forward Magazine in 2014.

Rabbi Klatzko is also the founder of Shabbat.com, the world’s largest Jewish social network, helping people find Shabbat, Jewish Dating, and employment in over 120 countries. He can be reached at (212) 742-2228 (212-shabbat) or via email at RabbiKlatzko@gmail.com.