When Does Human Life Begin In Judaism?
Judaism is a monotheistic religion, one of the oldest in the world and one of the most important. It is based on the Torah, which is the written law of God given to Moses on Mount Sinai. According to the Torah, a human life begins when the body and soul are combined together. This is referred to as the ‘breath of life.’
The moment of the union of the body and soul, referred to as ensoulment, is not agreed upon by religious scholars. Some believe that phrase reflects the act of God blanketing the body and soul as one. Others suggest it is a reference to the fetus being infused with breath or spirit at the moment of conception. The precise moment when the body and soul unite is debated.
Judaism has long argued the importance of protecting fetuses, with the discussion surrounding its status traditionally believed to date back to ancient times. According to historical records, it is believed that the first formal argument on the topic was recorded in the 9th century in ‘Mishnah’. This text suggested aborting a fetus under certain conditions. However, there was a significant distinction between the status of an unborn child and a fetus.
The legitimacy of life for a fetus was not fully recognized until the 12th century. This change was due to the influence of Maimonides’, the prominent Jewish philosopher of the time. He held a different view on taking a life of a fetus, suggesting that it should be read as an extension of a mother’s life and should not be subject to punishment.
Despite these changes in attitude and understanding, when life officially begins in Judaism still has yet to be clarified. Part of this is due to ongoing conflict in opinion. For example, some religious scholars infer that ensoulment is only present once the fetus has begun to think, while others believe that this process occurs right at conception.
Abortion Debates In Judaism
The debate around abortion and when life begins in regards to Judaism has continued to be contested and discussed. One of the key questions which has arisen centers around the conditions in which an abortion would be permissible. A discussion exists around three conditions – rape, danger to the mother’s life, and foetal abnormalities.
In the case of rape and danger to the mother’s life, the majority of religious leaders have suggested that abortion would be permissible as it is seen to be a form of self-defense. However, opinions have been divided when it comes to foetal abnormalities and deemed to be a grey area. Many suggest that it is still permissible to abort, whilst there are others who believe that it should be viewed as a form of murder.
In addition, pregnancy and parenthood within the Jewish state of Israel is another area of contention. The Israeli law provides preferential treatment to married couples, as opposed to single mothers. This has been perceived by some groups within the LGBT community as a form of discrimination. In response, it has been argued that this is due to strong cultural and religious views on marriage.
Fertility Treatment
Fertility treatments have become increasingly important to a number of people wishing to start a family. This has raised a number of legal and ethical considerations within Judaism. One of the most prominent revolves around the idea of gender selection, which is forbidden under Jewish law. Other debates include the use of donor sperm, eggs and embryos, and the idea of surrogacy.
In regards to the use of donor sperm and eggs, religious leaders have different views on the matter. Some suggest that it is permissible to use donor sperm if the biological father is unable to participate. On the other hand, others argue that donor sperm is a form of adultery and should not be used. Consequently, individual rabbis and Jewish authorities can often provide interpretation and guidance on the religious correctness of these practices.
When it comes to surrogacy, most religious authorities consider the surrogate mother to be only carrying the baby for the couple. This means that she does not have any parental rights to the child. However, complications can arise in regards to the parental role the surrogate mother plays and what is the extent of her responsibility.
Family Planning and IVF
In addition to fertility treatment is Jewish family planning and the use of in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The use of IVF is considered permissible under certain conditions. One of the main conditions is that both the egg and the sperm are from the same married couples. This is because it is viewed that the sperm and egg are the physical embodiment of the married couple, and should not be mixed with a third party individual.
In terms of family planning, the Jewish authorities suggest that couples limit their family size to reasonable levels. This is due to the Jewish value of preserving human life, and avoiding overpopulation as much as possible. Hence, contraception is often suggested as a method of family planning, although decisions are often left to the discretion of the couple.
Ethics of Human Cloning
The technology of human cloning has raised a number of ethical considerations in Judaism. It has been argued that an individual’s life should not be tampered with artificially and that it is playing God. This has been reinforced by religious institutions and authorities who suggest that taking a human embryo and manipulating it to be an exact replica of another human being contravenes the laws of the Torah.
In addition, as cloning does not involve a male and female relationship between a father and mother, it is deemed to be a practice of creating artificial humans using lab-grown embryos. This is viewed to be a transgression of the divine relationship of procreation between the mother and father. This is seen to be an essential part of the natural process of creating a family.
Conclusion
Overall, Jewish religious authorities have long debated the issue of when human life begins. The majority view has been that life begins at conception, although there is disagreement surrounding the definition of ensoulment. In addition, debates also continue to exist around abortion, surrogacy, fertility treatment and family planning, as well as the ethics of human cloning. Ultimately, different perspectives continue to exist within Judaism on the beginning of human life.
