. . . we are compelled to say that there was a situational extralegal ruling in R. Chanina ben Tradyon allowing the executioner to bring his death nearer and promising him the Coming World, and from Heaven they agreed with this situational extralegal ruling, and this is somewhat implied by Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon not saying to him “certainly you will have a reward for doing this great turn so that I will not suffer”, but rather needing to promise him and even swear to him, as under the Law it would not have been plausible to give him reward from Heaven since the act was essentially sinful, and it was only because of Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon’s promise and to fulfill his oath that Heaven gave the executioner the Coming World . . .
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A collection of responsa written by Rav Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986), regarded by many as the supreme halakhic authority for Orthodox Jewry of North America.
Talmud Sanhedrin 73a
Yoreh Deah 339:1
