Sanctity of life
Judaism teaches that all life is special and belongs to God. This is often referred to as the sanctity of lifeThe concept that life is sacred and therefore is to be respected and protected..
As God is the Creator of all life, only he should say when life begins or ends. Therefore, Jews believe they should do all they can to preserve life.
Many passages in the TanakhThe collected 24 books of the Jewish Bible. There are three sections: Torah, Nevi'im and Ketuvim (TaNaKh). May also be spelled Tenakh. demonstrate this, for example:
God said, let us make man in our image and likeness.
Pikuach Nefesh
The importance of human life is shown through the concept of pikuach nefeshThe saving of a life, which overrides almost any other religious consideration.. Pikuach Nefesh is one of the most important obligations of the Jewish mitzvotCommandments or laws in Judaism..
Pikuach Nefesh means that saving a human life should take priority over everything, even if this means breaking some of the laws set out in the TorahLaw; teaching. The word Torah can be used in a narrow sense to mean the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (The Five Books of Moses) and also in a wider sense to include the whole of the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud..
The TalmudA work that is part of rabbinic oral law and made up of the Mishnah and the Gemara (a commentary on the Mishnah). describes many instances when the laws of ShabbatThe seventh day of the week; a day of spiritual renewal and rest commencing at sunset on Friday and terminating at nightfall on Saturday. can be broken in order to save a life. For example, on a Saturday, Jews are expected to rest and not carry out any work at all. However, Pikuach Nefesh means that it is acceptable for someone to carry out work on a Saturday to save a life (eg by moving rubble from a collapsed wall to save a child or extinguishing a fire if someone were trapped).
Examples
Other examples of Pikuach Nefesh include:
- a person who was ill would not have to fast during Yom KippurThe Day of Atonement in the Jewish calendar. This is the most sacred and solemn day of the year for Jews.
- a doctor could answer an emergency telephone call on Shabbat
- if a mother’s life were in danger during pregnancy, abortion would be permitted
Exceptions
Although Pikuach Nefesh states that the mitzvot can be broken to save a life, there are four exceptions. Murder, idolatryThe worship of an idol, object or person instead of God., incest and adultery are forbidden under any circumstances.
Question
Outline an example of Pikuach Nefesh.
Following are some possible answers:
- driving an ill person to hospital on Shabbat
- using a phone to call emergency services on Shabbat
- allowing an organ transplant to take place
- breaking a Jewish law in order to (and only to) save a life