1.6 : The Sanctity of Life

Question 1

What does Judaism teach about life?

Answer 1

• Judaism teaches that life is sacred - it is a gift from God
• It follows that God is the author of life, and life itself is holy and must be valued and preserved.
• Judaism teaches that people must respect all human life - God is the Creator and it is up to God alone to decide when life begins and ends.

Question 2

What is Pikuach Nefesh?

Answer 2

Saving a life, the principle that the Mitzvot can be ignored to save a life.

Question 3

How does the Talmud explain the principle of Pikuach Nefesh?

Answer 3

• The Talmud explains the principle of Pikuach Nefesh in Leviticus,** “you shall not keep my statues, which if a man do….. he shall live by them”**
• The rabbis explain this as meaning a people live by the Mitzvot, not die by them.
• This means that even the Sabbath laws may be suspended to safeguard the suffering of an individual.
• A Jew is merely permitted, but is required to disregard a law that conflcits treating a person whose illness may prove dangerous.

Question 4

How is Pikuach Nefesh shown in the Torah?

Answer 4

** “Do not do anything that endangers your neighbours life” Leviticus 19:16**
* According the pikuach nefesh, Jews should do everything in their power to save the live of another, and so it is permissable to break the Yom Kippur fast, break the kashrut food laws etc.

Question 5

What is the sanctity of life?

Answer 5

The belief that life is holy and belongs to God

Question 6

Why is pikuach nefesh/sanctity of life important for Jews today?

Answer 6

• Pikuach nefesh is a means of deciding when and where the Mitzvot take priority.
• Some Jews do not accept abortion, however pikuach nefesh means that it the mother’s life is at risk, abortion could be allowed.
• Orthodox Jews do not accept the use of condomns and some other contraception, but the Jewish AIDS Trust promotes the use of condomns to prevent HIV tranmission - so pikuach nefesh means that this mitzvah can be broken ti save the lives of people who may become infected with HIV.
• Orthodox Jews do not accept transplant surgery, because thetre is a mitzvah which says a dead body should not be interferred with, however pikuach nefesh means that the mitzvah can be broken so organs can be transplanted from a dead body to save a life.
• Some Orthodox Jews run a voluntary ambulance service on the Sabbath, known as the Hatzola, where ill people who are worried abut disregarding the mitzvot, know that they are being treated by people who are doing the same to value the sanctity of life.

Question 7

What does Deuteronomy say about God and life?

Answer 7

“There is no God but me. I put to death and bring to life.”

Question 8

Why do Jews believe in the sanctity of life?

Answer 8

• Because Judaism teaches that life is sacred since is a gift from God. ** SOWA Leviticus 19:16**
• Because life was created by God and so only God has the right to end life. SOWA Deuteronomy