Value of Life
Torah Study 6/13 led by Rabbi Janet Marder
Source text dealing with the topic of suicide. Genesis 9:5
“ And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.”
9:6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.
Focus on Humans made in the ‘image of God’
God recognized human propensity for aggression and forbid the taking of human life.
It is a Talmudic interpretation that forbids ‘harming oneself’ and a prohibition of suicide.
Tractate Semahot is the source for practices on death and mourning. Gives specific instructions on what cannot be done in the case of suicide.
Not to tear the clothing or the crea ribbon. No eulogy. But you do recite the blessing for those who mourn because that is about the family and not the person who died. They wanted to avoid giving honor to one who committed suicide as to suggest that this was honorable or hold this as an example to the community.
Later suicide was justified based on extreme distress.
Masada – a question of the justification in this case. And was it suicide or martyrdom?
CCR – the reform response is to focus on the objective give comfort to the family and those who mourn and follow their wishes.
Focus on the value of life.
“Put life ahead of faith.”
“Heroic death is now less glamorized.”
“Your life is not your own”
Verse 5 – on suicide Verse 6 – on capital punishment
A look at the literary structure of the verses.
‘dam’ and ‘ha adam’ - adama – connection blood – human - earth
Similar sounds.
Kiasmos (Kosmos) - a symmetrical literary style (from Greek letter shape like X)
Literal: “Sheds blood of man by man his blood shall be shed” - bookended
Structure reflects meaning – talionic punishment “in kind”
The verse gives a clear prescription for capital punishment. However interpretations in Talmud make it very difficult to implement.
Makes it very difficult - Akiva and Tarfon – strongly opposed to capital punishment.
Rabbi Shimon ben Gamaliel responds, “[to Rabbi Tarfon and Rabbi Akiva] would have been increasing the murderers in Israel.” – held a different view that capital punishment should be an option.
There is clear text and interpretations to deal with issues like accidental killing, killing in war, killing to protect others and other situations. The need for witnesses are mandatory to result in capital punishment.
Source for the laws for humans to establish a judicial system to deal with issues of human aggression.
Eli Munk: Attributes the absolute value of all people. This extends to those who are punished for crimes.
The question is: What gives the ‘state’ the right to execute a person? ‘if all people
Excellent web references on this:
Rabbeinu Gershom (French rabbi 14th century) When one murders the image of God is expunged from a person by his act of murder.
R. Kunei (?) ( late 13th century) The judge is made in the image of God – vested by God with the task of seeking out the blood of the murder. Judge is the agent of God and takes the responsibility.
Wrestling with the contradiction in this issue.
Verse 7 – Be fertile and increase...
Rashi – a disturbing Talmudic interpretation –
Previously this text was given it was a blessing. Now it is a mitzvah.
Compares those who do not have children is equivalent to ‘shedding blood’
Having children is a mitzvah – a law.
Hekdesh – Talmudic interpretation based on the juxtaposition of verses in the text.
A definite challenge to modern thinking and choices to have children or not.
Jana points out that it is positioned next to ‘humans in God’s image’ and therfore allows for a more positive interpretation using this same method.
Source text dealing with the topic of suicide. Genesis 9:5
“ And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.”
9:6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.
Focus on Humans made in the ‘image of God’
God recognized human propensity for aggression and forbid the taking of human life.
It is a Talmudic interpretation that forbids ‘harming oneself’ and a prohibition of suicide.
Tractate Semahot is the source for practices on death and mourning. Gives specific instructions on what cannot be done in the case of suicide.
Not to tear the clothing or the crea ribbon. No eulogy. But you do recite the blessing for those who mourn because that is about the family and not the person who died. They wanted to avoid giving honor to one who committed suicide as to suggest that this was honorable or hold this as an example to the community.
Later suicide was justified based on extreme distress.
Masada – a question of the justification in this case. And was it suicide or martyrdom?
CCR – the reform response is to focus on the objective give comfort to the family and those who mourn and follow their wishes.
Focus on the value of life.
“Put life ahead of faith.”
“Heroic death is now less glamorized.”
“Your life is not your own”
Verse 5 – on suicide Verse 6 – on capital punishment
A look at the literary structure of the verses.
‘dam’ and ‘ha adam’ - adama – connection blood – human - earth
Similar sounds.
Kiasmos (Kosmos) - a symmetrical literary style (from Greek letter shape like X)
Literal: “Sheds blood of man by man his blood shall be shed” - bookended
Structure reflects meaning – talionic punishment “in kind”
The verse gives a clear prescription for capital punishment. However interpretations in Talmud make it very difficult to implement.
Makes it very difficult - Akiva and Tarfon – strongly opposed to capital punishment.
Rabbi Shimon ben Gamaliel responds, “[to Rabbi Tarfon and Rabbi Akiva] would have been increasing the murderers in Israel.” – held a different view that capital punishment should be an option.
There is clear text and interpretations to deal with issues like accidental killing, killing in war, killing to protect others and other situations. The need for witnesses are mandatory to result in capital punishment.
Source for the laws for humans to establish a judicial system to deal with issues of human aggression.
Eli Munk: Attributes the absolute value of all people. This extends to those who are punished for crimes.
The question is: What gives the ‘state’ the right to execute a person? ‘if all people
Excellent web references on this:
Rabbeinu Gershom (French rabbi 14th century) When one murders the image of God is expunged from a person by his act of murder.
R. Kunei (?) ( late 13th century) The judge is made in the image of God – vested by God with the task of seeking out the blood of the murder. Judge is the agent of God and takes the responsibility.
Wrestling with the contradiction in this issue.
Verse 7 – Be fertile and increase...
Rashi – a disturbing Talmudic interpretation –
Previously this text was given it was a blessing. Now it is a mitzvah.
Compares those who do not have children is equivalent to ‘shedding blood’
Having children is a mitzvah – a law.
Hekdesh – Talmudic interpretation based on the juxtaposition of verses in the text.
A definite challenge to modern thinking and choices to have children or not.
Jana points out that it is positioned next to ‘humans in God’s image’ and therfore allows for a more positive interpretation using this same method.
posted by Chavarah @ 6:26 AM
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