Judaism Flashcards
First principle of Jewish bioethics
Human life has infinite/intrinstic value
Second principle of Jewish bioethics
Ageing, sickness, and death are a natural part of life
Third principle of Jewish bioethics
It is a constant commitment to improve a patient’s quality of life
Abortion
When is abortion permitted?
When is a foetus considered human?
What teaching does abortion link to?
“If men strive together and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart and yet no harm follow, he shall surely be fined” (21:22 Exodus)
Permitted if there is a direct threat to the mother.
After 40 days, the Mishnah deems a foetus to be considered a human, but mainstream Jews may consider a foetus only human when born.
The First Principle: human life has infinite/intrinsic value.
Fertility
What are the requirements of MAC/IVF?
What teaching does fertility link to?
“God blessed them and said ‘be fruitful and multiply’” (1:28)
IVF is acceptable and seen as a God-given opportunity to fulfill a commandment.
Must be between a married couple. Frozen sperm or eggs are not acceptable.
Human life has infinite/intrinsic value.
Euthanasia
What teaching does euthanasia link to?
“All life belongs to God” - 4th Article of Faith
Life and death are involuntary.
Active euthanasia is condemned. Passive euthanasia is permitted in some circumstances.
A ‘gosses’, a dying patient, can have impediments to death removed.
Ageing, sickness and death are a natural part of life.
Life support
What teaching does life support link to?
“When a patient is gripped by unbearable pain and suffering, nature should be allowed to take its course.” (Rabbi Moshe Feinstein)
When the divine image (tzelem elohim) is affected by extreme suffering, life support may be removed.
Unduly prolonging of life and death is unacceptable.
It is a constant commitment to improve a patient’s quality of life.
Pikuach neffesh
The overriding obligation to save a life in jeopardy, even to the extent of violating other commandments.
Din Rodef
“If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill them first.” (Sanhedrin 72a)
“If one chases after his fellow to kill him, it is permitted to save the life of the chased at the expense of the life of the pursuer.” (Sanhedrin 73a)
Abortion: the baby would be considered a “rodef”, the pursuer of the mother’s life. The threat to the mother’s life by carrying the baby to term would have to be both probable and severe to allow an abortion.
Synagogue Services
The synagogue service is a time when the Jewish community comes together in worship, to make blessings, and to study the Torah. Synagogue services are held in the morning (Shacharit), the afternoon (Minchah) and the evening (Ma’ariv), and require a minyan (10 people) present. Synagogues are houses of worship, when God is revered. They are houses of study, when the Torah is progressively read through and may house the local school. They are houses of gathering, as synagogues are safe places for the Jewish community.
How does the synagogue service demonstrate the Covenant?
- Fulfilment of the covenant’s obligation to God.
- Kippah or yarmulke is worn to demonstrate reverance for God above.
- The 12 windows symbolise the 12 tribes of Israel.
- The tefflin, boxes containing the 4 main scriptures, are reminders of Jewish obligation.
- The Siddur contains the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
- Amidah prayers celebrate God’s ongoing redemption of Israel.
- The Sukkot festival acknowledges the bounty of God and the Israelite’s Exodus from Egypt.
How does the synagogue service demonstrate the attributes of God?
- The absence of representations demonstrates belief in the incorporeal nature of God.
- If 10 or more people study the Torah together at synagogue, the divine presence, Shechinah, will reside among them.
How does the synagogue service demonstrate divinely inspired moral law?
- The 1st commandment is the Shema, which is read during synagogue services. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
- The 2nd commandment is to not have any idol worship.
- The 4th commandment is to attend synagogue.
- The tzitzit symbolise the 613 mitzvot.
- The Shauvot/Pentecost festival commemorates the revelation of the Torah to Moses at Mt Sinai, and the 10 Commandments are read.
Significance for the individual
- Connect to God
- Shema
- Through prayer and worship
- Brings an adherent closer to God - Enhance beliefs and obligations
- Covenant - by attending synagogue, the adherent is fulfilling the covenant’s obligation
- Attributes of God
- Moral law
Significance for the community
- House of Prayer (communal fulfilment of the covenant through prayer, blessings, and worship)
- House of Study (studying the Torah, may house a school)
- House of Gathering (safe space that promotes social cohesion)
- Enhances beliefs (covenant, attributes of God, moral law)
- Maintains tradition and unifies the local community
- Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement, when people make peace with their neighbours and publicly confess their sins
