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Does Judaism forbid suicide?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

Library » Life Cycle » Death » Passing On | Subscribe | What is RSS?

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The Torah forbids suicide (see Rashi on Genesis 9:5).


There are no accidents or coincidences, everything is planned by G-d. If you are in this world it is because G-d has a specific plan for you. There is something which you can, must, and will, accomplish which no one else can.


G-d is good. Period. G-d did not put a person on this world in order to have a miserable time. So if someone is having a difficult time, it must be that Hashem also gave him/her the ability to overcome the difficulties and still lead a happy and productive life.


Just a piece of advice: having a mentor and spiritual guide can be very helpful in overcoming problems.

TAGS: suicide

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COMMENTS

Suicide vs. Overcoming Difficulites

Posted by: Benjamin Landau, NY, NY on Jul 18, 2005

What if the difficulties are such that the individual has no control over their resources--such as severe mental illness, burn pain, unbearable loneliness, etc.? Some people seem to suffer so helplessly no matter how hard they try to overcome, and they end up in terrible pain that seems not to end. What does Hashem expect of them in these cases, and how much suffering must a human being go through before they are given relief?

Editor's Comment

Life is all about the struggle. And, yes, some people -- those who G-d feels can handle the test -- struggle more than others. Relief, for all of us, comes in the next world. But we have no right to determine when that will be.

Assisted Suicide

Posted by: Anonymous, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA on Oct 20, 2005

I am just wondering, If Hashem controls what we can and can not do and one of our commandments is THOU SHALT NOT KILL then since he controls the people that murder other people isn't he technically breaking that commandment?

Editor's Comment

G-d gives us free choice in all matters of right and wrong.

Suicide

Posted by: Lloyd, Gig Harbor, WA on Mar 08, 2006

God forbids taking ones life but I think there are exceptions to the rule. In 1 Chro Samuel threw him self on the sword instead of being subjected to torture. The great tragic mass suicide at .Masada was probably OK because if the Romans would have captured the men they would have been tortured and unspeakable things would have happened to the women.

I cannot speak for anyone but my self but if I was in a situation I.E WAR like scenario and it resulted in my capture and I was to be tortured to gain some national security info I would suck down a cyanide pill happily and I think HaShem would find no fault in me.

Your thoughts…………..

Editor's Comment

See "Is suicide forbidden under all circumstances?" (http://www.askmoses.com/qa_detail.html?h=574&o=816225).

G-d and free will

Posted by: Anonymous, Los Angeles, CA on Sep 30, 2006

If everything is planned by G-d, then how does free-will play into it?

Editor's Comment

G-d controls all the circumstances which affect our lives. How we react to these circumstances -- that is up to us.
Torah
Torah is G–d’s teaching to man. In general terms, we refer to the Five Books of Moses as “The Torah.” But in truth, all Jewish beliefs and laws are part of the Torah.
Rashi
Acronym for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040-1105). Legendary French scholar who authored the fundemental and widely accepted "Rashi commentary" on the entire Bible and Talmud.
Hashem
"The Name." Out of respect, we do not explicitly mention G-d's name, unless in the course of prayer. Instead, "Hashem" is substituted.
Genesis
The first book of the Five Books of Moses. It records the story of Creation and its aftermath, and chronicles the lives of the Patriarchs.
G-d
It is forbidden to erase or deface the name of G-d. It is therefore customary to insert a dash in middle of G-d's name, allowing us to erase or discard the paper it is written on if necessary.