Saving Lives

There’s a statement in parasha Acharei Mot, that I believe has great significance for us today.  It is found in Chapter 18 verse 5 of Leviticus.  “You shall keep My laws and My rules, by the pursuit of which man shall live; I am the Lord. 

This verse has elicited much commentary.  When Nachmanides commented on this verse, he wrote about the purpose of the mishpatim….the laws.  He pointed out that these laws help us create a civil society, one in which we do not harm one another and where we can ultimately live in peace together. The mishpatim relate to our relationships with one another.  Nachmanides, however, did not speak about the chukim, the statutes which are commanded with no apparent reason for their observance other than the fact that we are commanded to observe them.

In the book of Deuteronomy 30:15, we are told, “See I set before you this day life and prosperity, death and adversity For I command you this day to love the Lord your G-d to walk in His ways and to keep his commandments, His laws, and His rules that you may thrive and increase , and that the Lord your G-d may bless you in the land that you are about to enter and possess.”  Such a statement is very precise about following the chukim and mishpatim.  So where do we see evidence about preserving life? If we’re told to keep G-d’s commandments, laws and rules then where did the idea of not observing them come from in order to save a life? Such discussion emanated from the Rabbis who presented arguments for such in the Talmud.  They were concerned with explaining the words, “live in them.” In Masechet Sanhedrin 74A, Rabbi Shimon points out that if an individual says to you, eat this pork or I will kill you, you should eat the pork, breaking the laws of kashrut to save your own life. This argument goes on to say that one must not fast on Yom Kippur if it will endanger their life.  Since we are to live by the commandments, and not die by them, we must even break the laws of Shabbat if observance will endanger a life.  It is not that we are being lenient about observing the mitzvot, it is that we are strict about saving a life, pikuach nefesh. 

So here we are having debates these days, about the efficacy of having physical distancing in order to preserve life during this pandemic.  Rabbis have made all sorts of statements about avoiding gathering for funerals, not having shiva minyanim, having zoom minyanim on Shabbat, and even about not doing tahara in preparation for burial.  Each of these rulings has been based on the absolute value of needing to preserve life, and none is an indication that in normal times, those mitzvot would be disposable. 

There was an absolutely reprehensible statement made by a government official in Texas last week when he mentioned that COVID-19 social-distancing restrictions should be eased because ‘there are more important things than living."  We Jews look at life differently.  We believe that to save one life is to save a whole world.

There are 3 commandments however, which cannot be broken even if we are told that we will be killed if we do not abandon them….they are idolatry, murder, and having immoral sexual relationships.  If someone says they will kill you if you do not rape another individual, or they will kill you if you do not worship idols, or they will kill you if you do not kill someone else, then you are not permitted to save your life by committing those acts. In effect, what Judaism is saying is that life at all costs is not a Jewish value.  We value life because it is a way of sanctifying G-d’s presence in our world, as the Source of all life and there are boundaries that must be preserved in order for that sanctification to take place.

When we follow CDC guidelines and listen to health officials, we are not only being individually responsible, we are being collectively responsible.  When individuals talk about their own freedoms without care for others, it reminds me of the following story found in Midrash Rabbah, Vayikra 4:6.  A group of people was travelling in a boat. One of them took a drill and began to drill a hole beneath himself.

His companions said to him: "Why are you doing this?" Replied the man: "What concern is it of yours? Am I not drilling under my own place?"

Said they to him: "But you will flood the boat for us all!"

As anxious as many of us are to rush back to our normal way of doing things, let’s remember that the reason we have changed our patterns and routines is because we are fulfilling the mitzvah of pikuach nefesh, saving lives.  We are not having zoom Shabbat gatherings because they are easier than having a minyan at shul (although they are), and we are not avoiding going to funerals or weddings because such lifecycle events can really manage without us.  We acknowledge that comforting mourners is still a mitzvah and giving joy to the bride and groom is still a mitzvah, however these mitzvot are superseded by the mitzvah of saving lives by practicing physical distancing.

We know many healthcare workers are currently involved in this very holy work of saving lives.  As they put forth extraordinary efforts to save lives, may we continue to act in responsible ways to avoid making their jobs more difficult.  And may we always show our appreciation for the gift of life itself by acting in accordance with the principle of pikuach nefesh.