review
In the book Op het Leven! (1997) by Rabbi Raphael Evers (see photo) complex medical-ethical issues are treated from a Judeo-religious perspective. It concerns 22 current problems such as abortion, transsexuality, autopsy, etc. Here is a review.
data
- Title: On life
- Author: Rabbi R. Evers
- ISBN: 90 242 6166 x
- Publisher: Kok, Kampen
- Year: 1997
The author
Rabbi Evers (1954) is a rabbi at the Dutch Israelite Denomination that belongs to the traditional orthodox Judaism. This book is described from this background.
Content
With a growing literature in the field of medical ethics, Rabbi Evers of the Netherlands Israelite Denomination finds it important that there is a book that pays attention to the Jewish-religious tradition in the medical-ethical field. In an especially profane society like ours, according to Evers, the believer does not have to be forced into irreligious choices in the field of bioethics.
With his book Rabbi Evers wants to offer religious-moral guidance to (Jewish) believers in weighing up current medical-ethical issues.
Body and soul
Judaism assumes that material matter in general and the body in particular form the core of creation. The body is a very fine instrument with which the soul can fulfill its task on earth. The body must function perfectly if man is to fulfill his purpose.
The Hebrew word ‘chole’ means to be sick. The word also means to be weak, which means that the bond between soul and body becomes weaker. In order to properly fulfill its mission on earth, the soul must camp in a healthy body. In order to prevent the physician from believing that “everything is physical,” the physician should keep his eyes on the sky while exercising his profession. Hence the Torah (Bible) says: “I, Gd, give you permission to heal, you should be constantly aware that you as a doctor derive your authority from a special divine assignment and that your activities should only be directed towards such a greatest possible unfoldment of the Divine aspect of man. “
Clear question
The chapters deal with 22 current medical-ethical issues by means of a concise and clear question. The treatment concerns a philosophical and religious-juridical analysis in a deeply religious atmosphere. Rabbi Evers draws thoroughly from the Torah, Talmud and other Jewish sources.
It is striking that two thousand year old traditions can be applied to modern matters. The Jewish scholars know to put forward halachic (legal) requirements for every medical problem. It becomes clear that the broad outlines of the Jewish faith are not rigidly fixed. Incidentally, the Torah self as a perfect medicine and even seen by some as a super medicine.
Examples
Here are a few examples. The chapter on surrogacy refers to Abraham and Sarah. Sara cannot have children for a long time. Her slave girl Hagar, with Sarah’s permission, becomes pregnant with Abraham. This is an example of a legal form of surrogacy. In addition, the Talmud (200-500 AD) already mentions a kind of artificial insemination. Almost all halachic authorities agree that artificial insemination is allowed as long as it is from one’s own husband and not a donor.
In another chapter on plastic surgery, it is explained that it is forbidden to injure, but that plastic surgery is allowed to relieve pain (psychological distress). The book also discusses diseases such as AIDS; abortion and euthanasia are discussed; the question is asked whether doctors and nursing staff can strike; the dilemma of the moment of death is explained, etc. Thus, in each chapter, the author deals with a medical-ethical problem and looks at what the Jewish scholars have to say about it.
All in all, the book provides a good insight into what is and what is not allowed in the medical world from the orthodox Jewish point of view. This book is recommended for people who value religious-ethical standards in the complex medical world.
Rabbi Evers has now written a new follow-up book: Chosen for life. This involves new issues such as cloning and embryonic stem cell research.