Suicide

Question

What does the Torah say about suicide?

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    Jewish Law looks at suicide in a very negative light. The Torah forbids it and the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law), Yoreh Deah 345, describes the various scenarios that Jewish law considers suicide.

    Regarding the issue of quality of life, we believe that life has an infinite, spiritual value, and we are not allowed to make evaluations of quality.

    Who are we to say and evaluate what the soul is feeling? This type of evaluation is a slippery slide down the moral slope. Should a retarded baby be allowed to live – what is its quality of life, does it have dignity? What about handicapped people? Criminals? We do not feel that humans are able to make such decisions, and therefore should preserve life.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team