7.6 The Sanctity Of Life, 7.7 Moral Principles And The Mitzvot Flashcards
Pikuash Nefesh
Primacy of life
Holy, special, sacred
Human life is special and the preservation of it overrides virtually any other religious law
Sabbath laws may be suspended to safeguard the health of the individual
Leviticus
“ You shall not stand aside while your fellow’s blood is shed”
Almost any Jewish law can be broken to save a Jewish life except for:
Murder
Incest
Idolatry
Adultery
The principle of Pikuach Nefesh is so important to Jews because:
1) Upholds the belief that God is the giver of life - life is sacred
2) Influences how Jews approach the world and deciding when and where the mitzvot take priority
3) abortion - some Jews believe it can’t be allowed because of the sanctities of life, but Pikuach Nefesh means the mothers life is a priority
4) contraception - Orthodox Jews: don’t allow condoms (Torah teaches that male seed is sacred), but the Jewish Aids Trust promotes the use of condoms to prevent HIV transmission
5) transplant surgery isn’t allowed - mitzvah which says dead bodies must not be interfered with, but pikuach nefesh means that this mitzvah can be broken to save a life
Mitzvah
A singular commandment
Mitzvot
Commandments set rules or guide actions (613)
Halakhah
The list of 613 mitzvot which guide Jewish life
Predetermined
Already decided by God
Free will
The individual decides everything they do
What do Jews use the Mitzvot for?
Help guide them in choosing what is right or what is wrong
Obey the mitzvot - rewarded
Disobey the mitzvot - punished
A few rules that Jews have to follow that affect daily life
What they are allowed to eat
Say blessings before + after eating
Rules of modesty governing what they can wear
Why do the Mitzvot matter today?
Form a part of the covenant between themselves + God
Believe they have free will + choice when following the Mitzvot
Mitzvah is a good deed - following it is fulfilling an important part of Jewish life
Omniscience
Complete knowledge of all human actions, past, present, and future
The mitzvot between humans - ‘acts of loving kindness’
Visiting the sick
Comforting mourners
Feeding the hungry
Clothing the naked (helping the poor)
