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ABORTION IN NOAHIDE LAW

ื‘ืก”ื“

PHARAOHโ€™S COMMAND TO THE HEBREW MIDWIVES

  1. Exodus 1:15-17
And the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whose names was Shifra and one whose name was Puโ€™ah, and he said, โ€œwhen you birth the Hebrew women, and you see, while they are on the birthstool, that the infant is a son, you must kill him; and if it is a daughter, she may liveโ€. And the midwives feared G-d and did not do as the king of Egypt said; rather, they allowed the boys to live.ื•ึทื™ึนึผึ™ืืžึถืจึ™ ืžึถึฃืœึถืšึฐ ืžึดืฆึฐืจึทึ”ื™ึดื ืœึทึฝืžึฐื™ึทืœึฐึผื“ึนึ–ืช ื”ึธึฝืขึดื‘ึฐืจึดื™ึนึผึ‘ืช ืึฒืฉึถืึจืจ ืฉึตืึคื ื”ึธึฝืึทื—ึทืชึ™ ืฉึดืืคึฐืจึธึ”ื” ื•ึฐืฉึตืึฅื ื”ึทืฉึตึผืื ึดึ–ื™ืช ืคึผื•ึผืขึธึฝื”ืƒ ื•ึทื™ึนึผึ—ืืžึถืจ ื‘ึฐึผื™ึทืœึถึผื“ึฐื›ึถืŸึ™ ืึถืชึพื”ึธึฝืขึดื‘ึฐืจึดื™ึผึ”ื•ึนืช ื•ึผืจึฐืึดื™ืชึถึ–ืŸ ืขึทืœึพื”ึธืื‡ื‘ึฐื ึธึ‘ื™ึดื ืึดืึพื‘ึตึผึฅืŸ ื”ื•ึผืึ™ ื•ึทื”ึฒืžึดืชึถึผึฃืŸ ืึนืชึ”ื•ึน ื•ึฐืึดืึพื‘ึทึผึฅืช ื”ึดึ–ื•ื ื•ึธื—ึธึฝื™ึธื”ืƒ ื•ึทืชึดึผื™ืจึถึคืืŸึธ ื”ึทึฝืžึฐื™ึทืœึฐึผื“ึนืชึ™ ืึถืชึพื”ึธึฃืึฑืœึนืงื™ื ื•ึฐืœึนึฃื ืขึธืฉื‚ึ”ื•ึผ ื›ึทึผืึฒืฉึถืึ›ืจ ื“ึดึผื‘ึถึผึฅืจ ืึฒืœึตื™ื”ึถึ–ืŸ ืžึถึฃืœึถืšึฐ ืžึดืฆึฐืจึธึ‘ื™ึดื ื•ึทืชึฐึผื—ึทื™ึถึผึ–ื™ืŸึธ ืึถืชึพื”ึทื™ึฐืœึธื“ึดึฝื™ืืƒ

2. Pharaoh’s abortion scheme

โ€œIf it is a son, you will kill him; and if it is a daughter, she may liveโ€. Rabbi Chanina said: Pharaoh gave a sign to them: a male is born face-down; a female is born face-up.ืึดื ื‘ึตึผืŸ ื”ื•ึผื ื•ึทื”ึฒืžึดืชึถึผืŸ ืื•ึนืชื•ึน ืึธืžึทืจ ืจึทื‘ึดึผื™ ื—ึฒื ึดื™ื ึธื ืกึดื™ืžึธืŸ ื’ึธึผื“ื•ึนืœ ืžึธืกึทืจ ืœึธื”ึถืŸ ื‘ึตึผืŸ ืคึธึผื ึธื™ื• ืœึฐืžึทื˜ึธึผื” ื‘ึทึผืช ืคึธึผื ึถื™ื”ึธ ืœึฐืžึทืขึฐืœึธื”

THE TORAHโ€™S PROHIBITION ON ABORTION FOR NOAHIDES

3. Genesis 9:6

One who spills the blood of a man, through man shall his blood be spilled, for in the image of G-d did He make man.ืฉึนืืคึตืšึฐึ™ ื“ึทึผึฃื ื”ึธึฝืึธื“ึธึ”ื ื‘ึธึผึฝืึธื“ึธึ–ื ื“ึธึผืžึฃื•ึน ื™ึดืฉึธึผืืคึตึ‘ืšึฐ ื›ึดึผึšื™ ื‘ึฐึผืฆึถึฃืœึถื ืึฑืœึนืงื™ื ืขึธืฉึธื‚ึ–ื” ืึถืชึพื”ึธืึธื“ึธึฝืืƒ

FETICIDE: PROHIBITION AND PUNISHMENT

4. Sanhedrin 57b

They said in the name of Rabbi Yishmael: [a Ben Noach is liable to the death penalty] even for the killing of fetuses. What is the reasoning of Rabbi Yishmael? The verse states: [one who] spills the blood of man within man, his blood shall be spilled. What type of โ€œmanโ€ is โ€œwithin manโ€? We must say that this refers to a fetus in the womb of its mother.ืžืฉื•ื ืจื‘ื™ ื™ืฉืžืขืืœ ืืžืจื• ืืฃ ืขืœ ื”ืขื•ื‘ืจื™ืŸ ืžืื™ ื˜ืขืžื™ื” ื“ืจื‘ื™ ื™ืฉืžืขืืœ ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื˜,ื•) ืฉื•ืคืš ื“ื ื”ืื“ื ื‘ืื“ื ื“ืžื• ื™ืฉืคืš ืื™ื–ื”ื• ืื“ื ืฉื”ื•ื ื‘ืื“ื ื”ื•ื™ ืื•ืžืจ ื–ื” ืขื•ื‘ืจ ืฉื‘ืžืขื™ ืืžื•

DISTINCTION BETWEEN Bโ€™NEI NOACH AND Bโ€™NEI YISRAEL WITH REGARD TO KILLING A FETUS

5. Maimonides, Laws of Kings and Wars 9:4

A Ben Noach who kills any soul, even that of a fetus in its motherโ€™s womb, is punished by deathโ€ฆ This does not apply to a Jew.ื‘ึถึผืŸ ื ึนื—ึท ืฉึถืื”ึธืจึทื’ ื ึถืคึถืฉื ืึฒืคึดืœึผื•ึผ ืขื•ื‘ึธึผืจ ื‘ึดึผืžึฐืขึตื™ ืึดืžึผื•ึน ื ึถื”ึฑืจึธื’ ืขึธืœึธื™ื•. ื•ึฐื›ึตืŸ ืึดื ื”ึธืจึทื’ ื˜ึฐืจึตืคึธื” ืื•ึน ืฉึถืื›ึฐึผืคึธืชื•ึน ื•ึผื ึฐืชึธื ื•ึน ืœึดืคึฐื ึตื™ ืึฒืจึดื™ ืื•ึน ืฉึถืื”ึดื ึดึผื™ื—ื•ึน ื‘ึธึผืจึธืขึธื‘ ืขึทื“ ืฉึถืืžึตึผืช. ื”ื•ึนืึดื™ืœ ื•ึฐื”ึตืžึดื™ืช ืžึดื›ึธึผืœ ืžึธืงื•ึนื ื ึถื”ึฑืจึธื’. ื•ึฐื›ึตืŸ ืึดื ื”ึธืจึทื’ ืจื•ึนื“ึตืฃ ืฉึถืื™ึธึผื›ื•ึนืœ ืœึฐื”ึทืฆึดึผื™ืœื•ึน ื‘ึฐึผืึถื—ึธื“ ืžึตืึตื™ื‘ึธืจึธื™ื• ื ึถื”ึฑืจึธื’ ืขึธืœึธื™ื•. ืžึทื” ืฉึถึผืืึตื™ืŸ ื›ึตึผืŸ ื‘ึฐึผื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ:

Punishment for Feticide for Jews

6. Exodus 21:22-3

And if men fight and they shove a pregnant woman, and she miscarries, and there is no other damage, he shall be punished (fined) to the extent that the womanโ€™s husband can exact from him before the court.(ื›ื‘) ื•ึฐื›ึดึฝื™ึพื™ึดื ึธึผืฆึฃื•ึผ ืึฒื ึธืฉึดืึ—ื™ื ื•ึฐื ึธึจื’ึฐืคึœื•ึผ ืึดืฉึธึผืึคื” ื”ึธืจึธื”ึ™ ื•ึฐื™ึธืฆึฐืึฃื•ึผ ื™ึฐืœึธื“ึถึ”ื™ื”ึธ ื•ึฐืœึนึฅื ื™ึดื”ึฐื™ึถึ–ื” ืึธืกึ‘ื•ึนืŸ ืขึธื ึฃื•ึนืฉื ื™ึตืขึธื ึตึ—ืฉื ื›ึทึผึฝืึฒืฉึถืึจืจ ื™ึธืฉึดืึคื™ืช ืขึธืœึธื™ื•ึ™ ื‘ึทึผึฃืขึทืœ ื”ึธึฝืึดืฉึธึผืึ”ื” ื•ึฐื ึธืชึทึ–ืŸ ื‘ึดึผืคึฐืœึดืœึดึฝื™ืืƒ (ื›ื’) ื•ึฐืึดืึพืึธืกึ–ื•ึนืŸ ื™ึดื”ึฐื™ึถึ‘ื” ื•ึฐื ึธืชึทืชึธึผึฅื” ื ึถึ–ืคึถืฉื ืชึทึผึฅื—ึทืช ื ึธึฝืคึถืฉืืƒ

7. BT Sanhedrin 59a

[If a law was] given to Bโ€™nei Noach and was not repeated at Sinai, it was given to Israel and not to Bโ€™nei Noach. On the contrary, if it was not repeated at Sinai, [it should be that] it was given to the Bโ€™nei Noach and not to Israel! There is nothing that is permitted to Jews and forbidden to non-Jews.ืœื‘ื ื™ ื ื— ื•ืœื ื ืฉื ื™ืช ื‘ืกื™ื ื™ ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ื ืืžืจื” ื•ืœื ืœื‘ื ื™ ื ื—: ืื“ืจื‘ื” ืžื“ืœื ื ื™ืฉื ื™ืช ื‘ืกื™ื ื™ ืœื‘ื ื™ ื ื— ื ืืžืจื” ื•ืœื ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื™ื›ื ืžื™ื“ืขื ื“ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉืจื™ ื•ืœืขื•ื‘ื“ ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ืืกื•ืจ

WHEN IS ABORTION PERMITTED?

8. Mishna, Ohalot 7:6

A woman who is having trouble giving birth, they cut up the child in her womb and remove it limb by limb, because her life takes priority over the childโ€™s. If most of the childโ€™s body has already emerged, they may not touch him, because we do not set aside one life for another.ื”ึธืึดืฉึธึผืื” ืฉึถืื”ึดื™ื ืžึทืงึฐืฉึธืื” ืœึตื™ืœึตื“, ืžึฐื—ึทืชึฐึผื›ึดื™ืŸ ืึถืช ื”ึทื•ึธึผืœึธื“ ื‘ึฐึผืžึตืขึถื™ื”ึธ ื•ึผืžื•ึนืฆึดื™ืึดื™ืŸ ืื•ึนืชื•ึน ืึตื‘ึธืจึดื™ื ืึตื‘ึธืจึดื™ื, ืžึดืคึฐึผื ึตื™ ืฉึถืื—ึทื™ึถึผื™ื”ึธ ืงื•ึนื“ึฐืžึดื™ืŸ ืœึฐื—ึทื™ึธึผื™ื•. ื™ึธืฆึธื ืจึปื‘ึผื•ึน, ืึตื™ืŸ ื ื•ึนื’ึฐืขึดื™ืŸ ื‘ึผื•ึน, ืฉึถืืึตื™ืŸ ื“ึผื•ึนื—ึดื™ืŸ ื ึถืคึถืฉื ืžึดืคึฐึผื ึตื™ ื ึธืคึถืฉื:

9. Tosefot, Sanhedrin 59a

There is nothing that is permitted to a Jew, etc.: Regarding fetuses, where non-Jews are liable to capital punishment and Jews are exempt from capital punishment, despite the exemption, the act itself is not permitted [either for a Jew or Non-Jew]. Opinion 1: However, there is a difficulty: the Sages have stated (Sanhedrin 72b), if the infant crowns, we may not touch it, because we may not endanger one life to save another. But before the head emerges, a midwife may reach in, cut the infant to pieces, and remove them in order to save the life of the mother. However, this would be forbidden to non-Jews, because of the stringency of feticide as it applies to them. Opinion 2: But there are those who say that the difference is not due to the differences in stringency, but because it is obligatory upon Jews to take the life of the fetus to save the life of the mother [while this is not obligatory upon non-Jews], and that it is possible that [while not obligatory] it is nonetheless permitted.ืœื™ื›ื ืžื™ื“ืขื ื“ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉืจื™ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื•ื›ื•’ ื•ืขืœ ื”ืขื•ื‘ืจื™ื ื“ืขื•ื‘ื“ ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ื—ื™ื™ื‘ ื•ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืคื˜ื•ืจ ืืข”ื’ ื“ืคื˜ื•ืจ ืž”ืž ืœื ืฉืจื™ ืžื™ื”ื• ืงืฉื” ื“ืืžืจื™ื ืŸ ื‘ืคืจืง ื‘ืŸ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžื•ืจื” (ืœืงืžืŸ ื“ืฃ ืขื‘:) ื™ืฆื ืจืืฉื• ืื™ืŸ ื ื•ื’ืขื™ืŸ ื‘ื• ื“ืื™ืŸ ื“ื•ื—ื™ืŸ ื ืคืฉ ืžืคื ื™ ื ืคืฉ ืื‘ืœ ืงื•ื“ื ืฉื™ืฆื ืจืืฉื• ื”ื—ื™’ ืคื•ืฉื˜ืช ื™ื“ื” ื•ื—ืชื›ืชื• ืœืื‘ืจื™ื ื•ืžื•ืฆื™ืื” ื›ื“ื™ ืœื”ืฆื™ืœ ืืช ืืžื• ื•ื›ื””ื’ ื‘ืขื•ื‘ื“ ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ืืกื•ืจ ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื”ื•ื–ื”ืจื• ืขืœ ื”ืขื•ื‘ืจื™ื ื•ื™”ืœ ื“ื”ื ื ืžื™ ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืฆื•ื” ื›ื“ื™ ืœื”ืฆื™ืœ ื•ืืคืฉืจ ื“ืืคื™ืœื• ื‘ืขื•ื‘ื“ ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ืฉืจื™:

THE MITZVAH OF PIKUACH NEFESH

10. Leviticus 18:5

And you shall guard My statutes and My judgements by which a person will do them and live, I am the L-rd.ื•ึผืฉึฐืืžึทืจึฐืชึถึผึคื ืึถืชึพื—ึปืงึนึผืชึทื™ึ™ ื•ึฐืึถืชึพืžึดืฉึฐืืคึธึผื˜ึทึ”ื™ ืึฒืฉึถืึจืจ ื™ึทืขึฒืฉึถื‚ึฅื” ืึนืชึธึ›ื ื”ึธืึธื“ึธึ–ื ื•ึธื—ึทึฃื™ ื‘ึธึผื”ึถึ‘ื ืึฒื ึดึ–ื™ ื“’ืƒ

11. BT Yoma 85b

Rabbi Shimon Ben Menassiah says, โ€œโ€™And the Children of Israel shall guard My sabbathโ€™. The Torah says, โ€˜desecrate one sabbath for him so that he will keep many sabbathsโ€™.โ€ Rav Yehuda says in the name of Shmuel, โ€œI have a better proof: it says, โ€œand live by themโ€โ€”and not die by themโ€.ืจึทื‘ึดึผื™ ืฉึดืืžึฐืขื•ึนืŸ ื‘ึถึผืŸ ืžึฐื ึทืกึฐื™ึธื ืื•ึนืžึตืจ: ืดื•ึฐืฉึธืืžึฐืจื•ึผ ื‘ึฐื ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ืึถืช ื”ึทืฉึทึผืื‘ึธึผืชืด, ืึธืžึฐืจึธื” ืชึผื•ึนืจึธื”: ื—ึทืœึตึผืœ ืขึธืœึธื™ื• ืฉึทืื‘ึธึผืช ืึทื—ึทืช ื›ึฐึผื“ึตื™ ืฉึถืื™ึดึผืฉึฐืืžื•ึนืจ ืฉึทืื‘ึธึผืชื•ึนืช ื”ึทืจึฐื‘ึตึผื”. ืึธืžึทืจ ืจึทื‘ ื™ึฐื”ื•ึผื“ึธื” ืึธืžึทืจ ืฉึฐืืžื•ึผืึตืœ: ืึดื™ ื”ึฒื•ึทืื™ ื”ึธืชึธื, ื”ึฒื•ึธื” ืึธืžึตื™ื ึธื ื“ึดึผื™ื“ึดื™ ืขึฒื“ึดื™ืคึธื ืžึดื“ึดึผื™ื“ึฐื”ื•ึผ: ืดื•ึฐื—ึทื™ ื‘ึธึผื”ึถืืด โ€” ื•ึฐืœึนื ืฉึถืื™ึธึผืžื•ึผืช ื‘ึธึผื”ึถื.

12. Maimonides, Foundations of the Torah 5:1

The entire House of Israel is commanded concerning kiddush Hashem, the sanctification of His Great Name, as the verse says (Leviticus 22:32), โ€œI shall be sanctified amongst the Children of Israelโ€; they are also warned against desecrating it, as the verse [also] says, โ€œand do not desecrate My Holy Nameโ€. How does this work? If a Gentile rises up and forces a Jew to either violate even one of the commandments written in the Torah or be killed, he must violate the commandment and not allow himself to be killed, as the verse states, concerning the observance of mitzvot (Leviticus 18:5), โ€œโ€ฆas a person will perform the commandments and live by themโ€โ€”โ€œand not die by themโ€ (Yoma 85b). And if he allows himself to die rather than transgress, he is liable for his own death.ื›ึธึผืœ ื‘ึตึผื™ืช ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ืžึฐืฆึปื•ึดึผื™ืŸ ืขึทืœ ืงึดื“ึผื•ึผืฉื ื”ึทืฉึตึผืื ื”ึทื’ึธึผื“ื•ึนืœ ื”ึทื–ึถึผื” ืฉึถืื ึถึผืึฑืžึทืจ )ื•ื™ืงืจื ื›ื‘ ืœื‘) “ื•ึฐื ึดืงึฐื“ึทึผืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ ื‘ึฐึผืชื•ึนืšึฐ ื‘ึฐึผื ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ”. ื•ึผืžึปื–ึฐื”ึธืจึดื™ืŸ ืฉึถืืœึนึผื ืœึฐื—ึทืœึฐึผืœื•ึน ืฉึถืื ึถึผืึฑืžึทืจ (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื›ื‘ ืœื‘)”ื•ึฐืœึนื ืชึฐื—ึทืœึฐึผืœื•ึผ ืึถืช ืฉึตืื ืงึธื“ึฐืฉึดืื™”. ื›ึตึผื™ืฆึทื“. ื›ึฐึผืฉึถืื™ึทึผืขึฒืžึนื“ ืขื•ึนื‘ึตื“ ื›ึผื•ึนื›ึธื‘ึดื™ื ื•ึฐื™ึถืึฑื ึนืก ืึถืช ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ืœึทืขึฒื‘ึนืจ ืขึทืœ ืึทื—ึทืช ืžึดื›ึธึผืœ ืžึดืฆึฐื•ึนืช ื”ึธืึฒืžื•ึผืจื•ึนืช ื‘ึทึผืชึผื•ึนืจึธื” ืื•ึน ื™ึทื”ึทืจึฐื’ึถึผื ึผื•ึผ ื™ึทืขึฒื‘ึนืจ ื•ึฐืึทืœ ื™ึตื”ึธืจึตื’ ืฉึถืื ึถึผืึฑืžึทืจ ื‘ึทึผืžึดึผืฆึฐื•ึนืช (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื™ื— ื”) “ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ื™ึทืขึฒืฉึถื‚ื” ืื•ึนืชึธื ื”ึธืึธื“ึธื ื•ึธื—ึทื™ ื‘ึธึผื”ึถื”. ื•ึธื—ึทื™ ื‘ึธึผื”ึถื ื•ึฐืœึนื ืฉึถืื™ึธึผืžื•ึผืช ื‘ึธึผื”ึถื. ื•ึฐืึดื ืžึตืช ื•ึฐืœึนื ืขึธื‘ึทืจ ื”ึฒืจึตื™ ื–ึถื” ืžึดืชึฐื—ึทื™ึตึผื‘ ื‘ึฐึผื ึทืคึฐืฉืื•ึน:

MURDER

13. BT Sanhedrin 74b

From where do we derive the law that one must allow oneself to be killed rather than murder another person? It is simple logic, as we see in the case of the person who came before Rabba and said to him, โ€œMari Dorai told me, โ€˜kill so-and-so, or I will kill you!โ€™โ€. Rabba said to him, โ€œlet yourself be killed and do not kill. Who told you that your blood is redder than his (the potential victim)? Maybe his blood is redder than yours!โ€ืจื•ืฆื— ื’ื•ืคื™ื” ืžื ื ืœืŸ ืกื‘ืจื ื”ื•ื ื“ื”ื”ื•ื ื“ืืชื ืœืงืžื™ื” ื“ืจื‘ื” ื•ืืžืจ ืœื™ื” ืืžืจ ืœื™ ืžืจื™ ื“ื•ืจืื™ ื–ื™ืœ ืงื˜ืœื™ื” ืœืคืœื ื™ื ื•ืื™ ืœื ืงื˜ืœื™ื ื ืœืš ืืžืจ ืœื™ื” ืœืงื˜ืœื•ืš ื•ืœื ืชื™ืงื˜ื•ืœ ืžื™ ื™ื™ืžืจ ื“ื“ืžื ื“ื™ื“ืš ืกื•ืžืง ื˜ืคื™ ื“ื™ืœืžื ื“ืžื ื“ื”ื•ื ื’ื‘ืจื ืกื•ืžืง ื˜ืคื™

14. BT Sanhedrin 74b

They asked Rav Ami: is a Ben Noach commanded to die for the sanctification of G-dโ€™s Name, or is he not commanded to do so? Abaye said, โ€œCome and hear: โ€˜Bโ€™nei Noach were commanded in seven mitzvotโ€™. If there is an eighth mitzvah, state it.โ€ Rava said to him, โ€œThat is not a proof that Bโ€™nei Noach are not commanded in kiddush Hashem, for when โ€˜seven mitzvotโ€™ are mentioned, the implication is the seven mitzvot plus all of the laws associated with them.โ€ What was the outcome of this discussion? Rav Ada bar Ahava said in the name of the Academy of Rav, โ€œit is written (II Kings 5:18), โ€˜let Hashem forgive your servant for these things, when my lord comes to Bet Rimmon to prostrate himself (to idols) and leans upon me, making me prostrateโ€™, and it is written, โ€˜and [Elisha] said to him, โ€˜go in peaceโ€™.โ€ And if it were true that a Ben Noach was obligated to sanctify the Name], he would not have said [go in peace].ื‘ืขื• ืžื™ื ื™ื” ืžืจ’ ืืžื™ ื‘ืŸ ื ื— ืžืฆื•ื•ื” ืขืœ ืงื“ื•ืฉืช ื”ืฉื ืื• ืื™ืŸ ืžืฆื•ื•ื” ืขืœ ืงื“ื•ืฉืช ื”ืฉื ืืžืจ ืื‘ื™ื™ ืช”ืฉ ืฉื‘ืข ืžืฆื•ืช ื ืฆื˜ื•ื• ื‘ื ื™ ื ื— ื•ืื ืื™ืชื ืชืžื ื™ ื”ื•ื™ื™ืŸ ื”ืœ ืจื‘ื ืื™ื ื”ื• ื•ื›ืœ ืื‘ื–ืจื™ื™ื”ื• ืžืื™ ื”ื•ื™ ืขืœื” ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ืื“ื ื‘ืจ ืื”ื‘ื” ืืžืจื™ ื‘ื™ ืจื‘ ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืžืœื›ื™ื ื‘ ื”, ื™ื—) ืœื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื–ื” ื™ืกืœื— ื”’ ืœืขื‘ื“ืš ื‘ื‘ื ืื“ื ื™ ื‘ื™ืช ืจืžื•ืŸ ืœื”ืฉืชื—ื•ืช ืฉืžื” ื•ื”ื•ื ื ืฉืขืŸ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ื•ื”ืฉืชื—ื•ื™ืชื™ ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘  (ืžืœื›ื™ื ื‘ ื”, ื™ื˜) ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ืœืš ืœืฉืœื•ื ื•ืื ืื™ืชื ืœื ืœื™ืžื ืœื™ื”

THE LAW OF THE PURSUER

15. Exodus 22:1

If a thief comes in stealth, and he is found and beaten to death, there is no blood-guilt.ืื ื‘ืžื—ืชืจืช ื™ึดืžึธึผืฆึตึฅื ื”ึทื’ึทึผื ึธึผึ–ื‘ ื•ึฐื”ึปื›ึธึผึฃื” ื•ึธืžึตึ‘ืช ืึตึฅื™ืŸ ืœึ–ื•ึน ื“ึธึผืžึดึฝื™ืืƒ

16. BT Sanhedrin 72a

Rava says, โ€œwhat is the reason [why a person is exempt from liability for killing a thief who breaks into the house]? It is because we have a presumption that a person will not restrain himself when he is in a situation where he is threatened with having his money taken, so the thief must have said to himself โ€˜if he comes to confront me and does not let me take his money, I will kill himโ€™โ€”and the Torah says, โ€˜if someone comes to kill you, preempt him and kill him first.โ€™โ€ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื ืžืื™ ื˜ืขืžื ื“ืžื—ืชืจืช ื—ื–ืงื” ืื™ืŸ ืื“ื ืžืขืžื™ื“ ืขืฆืžื• ืขืœ ืžืžื•ื ื• ื•ื”ืื™ ืžื™ืžืจ ืืžืจ ืื™ ืื–ื™ืœื ื ืงืื™ ืœืืคืื™ ื•ืœื ืฉื‘ื™ืง ืœื™ ื•ืื™ ืงืื™ ืœืืคืื™ ืงื˜ื™ืœื ื ืœื™ื” ื•ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืืžืจื” ืื ื‘ื ืœื”ื•ืจื’ืš ื”ืฉื›ื ืœื”ื•ืจื’

17. Leviticus 19:16

You shall not stand idly by your brotherโ€™s blood, I am the L-rdืœึนึฅื ืชึทืขึฒืžึนึ–ื“ ืขึทืœึพื“ึทึผึฃื ืจึตืขึถึ‘ืšึธ ืึฒื ึดึ–ื™ ื“’ืƒ

18. Maimonides, Laws Concerning the Murderer and the Preservation of Life 1:6

One who pursues his fellow in order to kill himโ€”even if the pursuer is a minorโ€”all Jews are commanded to save the intended victim from the pursuer, even if it means taking the life of the pursuer.ื”ึธืจื•ึนื“ึตืฃ ืึทื—ึทืจ ื—ึฒื‘ึตืจื•ึน ืœึฐื”ึธืจึฐื’ื•ึน ืึฒืคึดืœึผื•ึผ ื”ึธื™ึธื” ื”ึธืจื•ึนื“ึตืฃ ืงึธื˜ึธืŸ ื”ึฒืจึตื™ ื›ึธึผืœ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ืžึฐืฆึปื•ึดึผื™ืŸ ืœึฐื”ึทืฆึดึผื™ืœ ื”ึทื ึดึผืจึฐื“ึธึผืฃ ืžึดื™ึทึผื“ ื”ึธืจื•ึนื“ึตืฃ ื•ึทืึฒืคึดืœึผื•ึผ ื‘ึฐึผื ึทืคึฐืฉืื•ึน ืฉึถืืœ ืจื•ึนื“ึตืฃ:

19. Maimonides, ibid. 1:9

This is also a negative commandment: not to take pity upon the life of a murderous pursuer. Therefore, the Sages have taught that with regard to a pregnant woman in hard travail, it is permitted to dismember the fetus in her womb, whether by chemical means or by hand, because the fetus is like the pursuer with intent to kill.  But if the infant has crowned, he is not to be harmed, because we do not push off one life for another, and if the mother happens to die in childbirth, this is the nature of the world.ืึทืฃ ื–ื•ึน ืžึดืฆึฐื•ึทืช ืœึนื ืชึทึผืขึฒืฉึถื‚ื” ืฉึถืืœึนึผื ืœึธื—ื•ึผืก ืขึทืœ ื ึถืคึถืฉื ื”ึธืจื•ึนื“ึตืฃ. ืœึฐืคึดื™ื›ึธืšึฐ ื”ื•ึนืจื•ึผ ื—ึฒื›ึธืžึดื™ื ืฉึถืื”ึธืขึปื‘ึธึผืจึธื” ืฉึถืื”ึดื™ื ืžึทืงึฐืฉึธืื” ืœึตื™ืœึตื“ ืžึปืชึธึผืจ ืœึทื—ึฐืชึนึผืšึฐ ื”ึธืขึตื‘ึธึผืจ ื‘ึฐึผืžึตืขึถื™ื”ึธ ื‘ึตึผื™ืŸ ื‘ึฐึผืกึทื ื‘ึตึผื™ืŸ ื‘ึฐึผื™ึธื“ ืžึดืคึฐึผื ึตื™ ืฉึถืื”ื•ึผื ื›ึฐึผืจื•ึนื“ึตืฃ ืึทื—ึฒืจึถื™ื”ึธ ืœึฐื”ึธืจึฐื’ึธื”ึผ. ื•ึฐืึดื ืžึดืฉึถึผืื”ื•ึนืฆึดื™ื ืจึนืืฉืื•ึน ืึตื™ืŸ ื ื•ึนื’ึฐืขึดื™ืŸ ื‘ึผื•ึน ืฉึถืืึตื™ืŸ ื“ึผื•ึนื—ึดื™ืŸ ื ึถืคึถืฉื ืžึดืคึฐึผื ึตื™ ื ึถืคึถืฉื ื•ึฐื–ึถื”ื•ึผ ื˜ึดื‘ึฐืขื•ึน ืฉึถืืœ ืขื•ึนืœึธื:

20. Maimonides, Laws of Kings and Wars 9:4

This is also the case if he kills someone whose death is imminent, or if he binds someone and places him before a lion, or leaves him to die of starvationโ€”if he causes death in any way, he is punished by death. Similarly, if [a Ben Noach] kills a pursuer where he could have stopped the pursuer by maiming him, he is punished with death.ื•ึฐื›ึตืŸ ืึดื ื”ึธืจึทื’ ื˜ึฐืจึตืคึธื” ืื•ึน ืฉึถืื›ึฐึผืคึธืชื•ึน ื•ึผื ึฐืชึธื ื•ึน ืœึดืคึฐื ึตื™ ืึฒืจึดื™ ืื•ึน ืฉึถืื”ึดื ึดึผื™ื—ื•ึน ื‘ึธึผืจึธืขึธื‘ ืขึทื“ ืฉึถืืžึตึผืช. ื”ื•ึนืึดื™ืœ ื•ึฐื”ึตืžึดื™ืช ืžึดื›ึธึผืœ ืžึธืงื•ึนื ื ึถื”ึฑืจึธื’. ื•ึฐื›ึตืŸ ืึดื ื”ึธืจึทื’ ืจื•ึนื“ึตืฃ ืฉึถืื™ึธึผื›ื•ึนืœ ืœึฐื”ึทืฆึดึผื™ืœื•ึน ื‘ึฐึผืึถื—ึธื“ ืžึตืึตื™ื‘ึธืจึธื™ื• ื ึถื”ึฑืจึธื’ ืขึธืœึธื™ื•. ืžึทื” ืฉึถึผืืึตื™ืŸ ื›ึตึผืŸ ื‘ึฐึผื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ:

NOT FULLY HUMAN

21. Rashi, Sanhedrin 72b

As long as the infant has not emerged into the world, he is not a nefesh (person), and can be killed in order to save his mother.ื›ืœ ื–ืžืŸ ืฉืœื ื™ืฆื ืœืื•ื™ืจ ื”ืขื•ืœื ืœืื• ื ืคืฉ ื”ื•ื ื•ื ื™ืชืŸ ืœื”ื•ืจื’ื• ื•ืœื”ืฆื™ืœ ืืžื•


WHICH DOCTOR SHOULD BE TASKED WITH ABORTING A FETUS?

22. Leviticus 19:14

You shall not curse the deaf, nor place a stumbling-block before the blind, I am the L-rd.ืœึนืึพืชึฐืงึทืœึตึผึฃืœ ื—ึตืจึตึ”ืฉื ื•ึฐืœึดืคึฐื ึตึฃื™ ืขึดื•ึตึผึ”ืจ ืœึนึฅื ืชึดืชึตึผึ–ืŸ ืžึดื›ึฐืฉึนืึ‘ืœ ื•ึฐื™ึธืจึตึฅืืชึธ ืžึตึผืึฑืœึนื”ึถึ–ื™ืšึธ ืึฒื ึดึฅื™ ื“’ืƒ

By Rabbi Tani Burton

More shiurim of Rabbi Tani Burton

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