In Canada, suicide is the second-highest cause of death for youth aged 10 to 34. It is preceded only by

car accidents casualties! (Statistics Canada, kidsmentalhealth.ca). In 1972 Canadian legislators debated

on the large scale phenomena of suicides and, thank you very much, decided that suicidal acts should

not be treated as legal crimes. Probably because of the obvious inability to exhort penalty measures to

the criminal who executed such a “crime”…(although physician-assisted suicide is illegal (Criminal code

of Canada 241)).

Moreover, the Canadian Medical Association stated their somewhat ambivalent policy that although

not in support of euthanasia, “..these issues must be approached cautiously and deliberately by the

profession and society” (http://policybase.cma.ca/)

The above information along with Nova Scotia Province plans for possible new legislation for mandatory

organ donations, incited me to write a little about WHAT IS ‘LIFE’ ACCORDING TO JUDAISM.

This is how it all started according to the book of Genesis:

“And G-d created man in His image; in the image of G-d He created him..” (Bereshit 1:27)

This verse which is coined in such a festive manner calls for special attention.

It seems and sounds from this verse, as from many others, that the creation of man was a divine and

festive moment, a celebration of creation. A less common verse shortly after cites another fact, perhaps

less illuminated by us, human beings. G-d states in the narrative that He created Man “…(in order to)

leovda uleshomra”(to work and keep His land; our home- earth). So Man (and this obviously includes

woman) was not put in this world for the mere sake of living off his/her days. There is purpose to life. It

comes with a tag/check whether we like it or not.

Apparently this is the very first coincidence in which title and honour inevitably bring about

responsibility. In other words, in order to fulfill our claim to existence, we are expected to contribute to

the world.

Consequently, a human beings life would not be measured in terms of personal quantity – “how much

time do I have left?” nor by the standard quality measurement we’re used to i.e. how much pleasure,

suffering, Q.O.L (Quality Of Life) we can absorb. It doesn’t even end with one’s accomplishments, as we

don’t know what G-d destined us to accomplish in this world. – Life is an absolute value!

Life in Judaism is a gift one is committed to.

Being created in the image and likeness of G-d, grants us the potential of holiness. Therefore, every

human being deserves his/her right for dignity, for freedom of will and for equality.

Another ramification is that we are completely prohibited from taking one’s life, including our own. (For

exceptions, see Talmud Sanhedrin 74:1).

Taking away one’s life is considered so severe, that a person that kills him/herself is punished with

eternal excommunication. One who commits suicide will not be buried therefore, in a Jewish cemetery.

His/her body will be buried “outside the fence” (Shulchan A. Yo’de 362:5).

You might ask: well if one has already decided to end his/her life, it is doubtful he would give a damn

about where he/she will be buried. Well, this is but one detail of the whole picture that God is trying to

show us through the paintbrush of Halacha. It is up to each of us to look at the picture and pass it down

to those we care and love. To learn the art of cherishing life is done, also, by learning about the gravity

of offending life. Ours or others.

This fundamental understanding, already at the beginning of the Bible, must be the first inspiration for

understanding how dear it is to be born to humankind. What a great and awesome opportunity to be

created by the image(!) of G-d himself. What we do with this opportunity and how we take the most

advantage of it is for us to learn and exercise. Apparently, it is not always apparent.

This verse is also a milestone in addressing issues like: Stopping one’s life (Passively or actively). What

responsibilities do we have when we help people emigrate from other places in the world to Canada

(is it like regular merchandise, or do we have responsibility over their integration into the society?).

At what exact point a person’s damaged brain will be declared dead in order to donate his/her organs

to save another’s life? Can we stop a suffering person’s basic nutrition if he/she suffers and hasn’t got

much time to live?

There is much to learn. There is even more to appreciate and to act.

Life is not easy, life is not fair, life is meaningful, life is holy!

It is our duty towards the next generations, our offspring’s, to teach and illustrate just what it entails

and how we should celebrate LIFE.

Photo by Harry Thomas Photography