Pidyon shvuyim
Pidyon shevuyim is a religious duty in Judaism to bring about the release of a fellow Jew captured by slave dealers or robbers, or imprisoned unjustly. Reconciliation, ransom negotiations, or unrelenting pursuit typically secured the release of the captive. It is considered an essential commandment in halakha.
Limitations in the practice of the mitzva
Despite the importance of the mitzva, it should be performed within several boundaries, the most significant of which is:“One does not ransom captives for more than their value because of tikkun olam and one does not help captives escape because of Tikkun Olam."
One of the aims of this restriction is to avoid encouraging kidnappers, or those seeking financial gain by capturing Jews and demanding a kofer in exchange, due to the knowledge of how sensitive Jews are to rescuing their prisoners at any price. There are certain instances in which this restriction does not apply, such as when a man wishes to pay an excessive sum for his freedom, or when the prisoner is a Talmid Chacham, or when a husband is attempting to earn the freedom of his wife.
A prominent example of the practice of this restriction in reality was the affair of the arrest of Meir of Rothenburg, a gadol of Ashkenazi Judaism in the 13th century, who is said to have forbidden his release from prison citing this restriction, even though according to halakha, it was permitted to pay a substantial sum for his release.
Another restriction is that if a person repeatedly causes his capture time after time, a pidyon is no longer required after the third time. This refers to a situation in which a person has sold himself or been taken to prison for a crime committed intentionally. This restriction only applies when the life of the captive is not in danger; if his captors desire to kill him, a pidyon is mandatory.
The question of pidyon shevuyim, and particularly the amount of ransom to be paid, is a controversial issue in Israel, how captive Israeli soldiers are to be liberated or exchanged.