The mother is considered important in questions of abortion, why?
The mother is important as the Jewish tradition passes through her and her children won’t be Jewish if she isn’t as well.
What is the Jewish view on artificial insemination?
Artificial insemination is allowed as long as the donor is the husband. If the donor is anyone else then it is considered the same as adultery.
What is the Jewish teaching regarding transplants and medical experiments?
Organ transplants are allowed as long as the probability of the patient’s life is much greater than the risk of the donor. Medical experiments are allowed when they will benefit the patient, untried or uncertain cures may be used if safe treatment has failed to stop certain death. Jews can’t volunteer and if there’s no serious risk to the life and health.
Would euthanasia be allowed in Judaism?
No, it’s not permitted in Jewish laws.
How do Jewish people view passive euthanasia?
Some, but not all, Jews agree with passive euthanasia.
REFERENCES FROM THE JEWISH SCRIPTURE
Genesis chapter 1 verse 27
G-d created Man in His own image and He created male and female so that the world could be populated.
Genesis chapter 2 verse 18 – 25
A reminder at the end of this section that when a man marries he should leave his family and be united with his wife.
Deuteronomy chapter 24 verse 1 – 4
The Jewish scriptures do not record when divorce first began. This passage neither institutes divorce nor forbids it, but it does state 2 things:
- The man divorcing his wife must give her a written statement intended to protect her.
- A divorced woman who remarries cannot return to her first husband if her second husband dies or divorces her.
The process of divorce was between 2 families at this time, rather than being a legal matter. If the woman was guilty of misconduct her father would have to forfeit her dowry, if she was divorced without blame he could demand the return of some of it.
Proverbs 31 verse 10 – 31
We have here a picture of the ideal wife and mother. Obviously, the woman could not perform in one day all the duties listed here. This woman is also equally active in the home as in her business duties. She is trusted by her husband and tries to help him at all times. She works hard, makes difficult decisions, earns and invests money well, is compassionate and helpful to the needy; she is prepared for the future and has wisdom to teach other people. She has earned a high reputation in her community. All this is possible because she has centered her life on G-d.
Hosea chapter 3 verse 1
Hosea was a prophet (someone who spoke G-d’s word to the people). He had a very sad family life. He was able to use this sadness in order to share with people how G-d felt about his people. Hosea’s wife was an adulteress and she left him and their children in order to become a prostitute. However, she ended up in the slave market. G-d told Hosea that he should buy her back and bring her home, she was to be punished by living without any sexual relationship for a period of time. Hosea could tell the people that G-d was like a husband whose wife had become an adulteress and a prostitute because hi8s people had failed to worship him alone. They had worshipped idols and foreign gods, but such was G-d’s love for them that he was willing, after a period of time (to repent) to have them back as his people.
Isaiah 49 verse 5 and 15
Verse 5 reminds us that G-d knows us before we are born (in the womb). This verse says that as a people Israel was called to be G-d’s servant from birth or before birth.
Verse 15:
‘So the L-rd answers,
Can a woman forget her own baby
And not love the child she bore?
Even if a mother should forget her child,
I will never forget you’
G-d’s people may suffer but we are never forgotten. The verse is saying that it would be very unnatural for a mother to forget her baby.