Killers and Tillers 3(A)
After the Flood, people could eat anything except this.
Blood, or flesh with blood. "However, flesh with its own life-blood in it you shall not eat" (Gen 9:4).
The son of Azzai was accused by other Rabbis of hypocrisy. What was the basis of that charge?
He taught that not having children was both like murder and reduces the image of God—but he had no children.
What ancient text contains the words, "But if it is fully formed, he shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth...."
The Septuagint.
In Jewish law, when does full human life legally begin?
When most of the child, or its head, has emerged.
Define the concept of "Rodef."
A person who is pursuing another with the intent to kill them may themself be legally killed.
Where was the prophet Jeremiah from? Name both the city and the region.
Anatot in the territory of Benjamin.
In Genesis, where is it possible to find a prohibition against suicide?
9:5, "And indeed, for your very own life-blood I will seek liability.
What does the Mishnah derive from the word "bloods" in Genesis 4:10?
A murderer not only kills the victim, but all their potential future descendants.
According to Jewish interpretation, who is receiving the damage or harm referred to in Exodus 21:23?
The pregnant woman.
Give an example of how we are allowed to break Shabbat to save a fetus.
You may carry a knife in public to extract the fetus if the mother has died on Shabbat.
What is the main idea that Rashi and Yad Ramah have in common in their interpretations of Sanhedrin 72b?
A fetus is not a full human life (nefesh).
Who do the following words refer to?
The soul is yours and the body belongs to you.
God.
Where does Exodus 21 discuss unintentional homicide?
Verse 13: "But if they did not plan it--rather God brought it about--I will set a place for you where they can flee."
Why is Rabbi Shimon concerned about completely eliminating the death penalty?
He's afraid that without the deterrent of capital punishment, murders will increase.
The Hebrew word ason in Exodus 21 has been translated in many ways. How did the Greek Septuagint translate it (as rendered into English)?
"Fully formed."
Name two Hebrew terms for "life" and explain the difference between them for abortion law.
(1) Chayim and (2) Nefesh. Chayim means simply being alive in some way, and nefesh refers to full human life.
How can we tell that Rambam does NOT believe that an emerging baby threatening the life of its mother is really God trying to kill the woman?
Because he describes the situation as "the nature of the world," and avoids referring to God or "heaven" at all.
Which Rabbi probably has the latest view of the stage when a person will be able to enter the World to Come?
Rabbi Meir: From the moment that they say "amen."
According to Exodus, why don't you get the death penalty if you beat your slave, but he doesn't die for a few days?
Because the slave is considered a kind of property.
Where does Rabbi Eliezer get the idea from that not having children is like homicide?
The commandment to have children (in Genesis 9:7) comes immediately after the warning, "One who spills human blood, by humans their blood will be spilled" (9:6).
According to Rashi, how and why did the pregnant woman mentioned in Exodus 21 get struck? Be precise.
The man intended to hit the other man, but unintentionally or accidentally hit her instead.
Name a situation where executing a woman would be delayed.
If she were pregnant and had gone into labor.
Is Rambam likely to believe that a young, healthy woman (perhaps named "Chaya Mushka") could have an abortion in her first trimester? Why or why not?
Probably not since he uses the rationale of rodef, a pursuer, to permit saving the mother, which might imply that abortion is only allowed where there is a direct threat to the mother's life.
What does Rabbi's Roman friend think would happen to a fetus, if it didn't have a soul right from conception?
It would spoil like a piece of unsalted meat.
What do Exodus 21, verses 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 all have in common?
The requirement of capital punishment.
What is Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5 trying to teach witnesses who are testifying in a death penalty case?
False or mistaken testimony could make them responsible for ending countless human lives, if the wrong person is convicted.
Name one textual reason that some Christians have a stricter view of abortion than some Jews do.
The Church originally used the Greek Septuagint translation as their Bible, and it has a different interpretation of the passage from Exodus 21.
Since a husband has a financial stake in a fetus, why don't we normally just wait for a pregnant wife to give birth before executing her for a capital crime?
Because her mental and emotional anguish about waiting on death row takes precedence over his monetary claims on the fetus, and the fetus is considered part of her body.
How does Rav Hisda try to prove that a child attempting to kill someone is NOT a rodef?
He cites the text, "If its head has emerged, they do not touch it since we do not set aside one life for another life." This seems to be a case of a child trying to kill someone, but we are still not allowed to take its life.
How can you give someone permission to injure you so that they won't have to pay anything?
You can't; the person is always liable.