Explain why a Jew might be against Euthanasia
The term euthanasia means ‘a good death’. It is frequently referred to as ‘mercy killing’ due to its intentions being to allow or help a person who is suffering, and maybe close to death. The idea is to allow them their entitlement of dying painlessly. The key incentive is compassion as by shortening a life by just days of even weeks, euthanasia prevents a person from pain, entitling them to not suffer any more.
A Jew may be against euthanasia for the soul purpose of the sentimental value of life. Jews believe that life is an honour, an
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.+-d therefore should be cherished and respected in level with its absolute value. A life should be savoured above everything apart from one thing - G-d. The sacred value of a life is provided by God and he is the only one who can take it away at any time, of his own analysed choice. Furthermore, in this case euthanasia interferes with G-ds authority over his own creations. Jews believe that as humans we should not have the right to in essence ‘play G-d’ meaning he is the only one who fully decide when a life should be terminated. Jews are taught in the Talmud where it is made clear that the act of euthanasia is murder, and therefore is against one of the Ten Commandments; specifically the sixth where we are told that “You shall not murder.”
