The Mitzvot & Sanctity of Life (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))

Maimonides Eight Levels of Giving

Maimonides Eight Levels of Giving

• Justice is related to bringing about what is right and fair and this is shown through social actions and loving acts

• Within Judaism, justice and charity are inseparable

• For Jews, this means that charity is an obligation and not a choice:

  • This is known as Tzedekah

• Jews believe that some forms of charity are better than others:

  • In the Middle Ages, Moses Maimonides (a Jewish philosopher of the Middle Ages), conceived of an eight-level hierarchy of Tzedakah

  • The highest form is to give a gift, loan or partnership that will result in the recipient becoming self-sufficient instead of living upon others

The eight levels of charity

• It is therefore important not just to give charity but that it is given in the correct spirit and with the correct intention

Importance of the Sanctity of Life

Importance of the Sanctity of Life

• Jews believe that saving a human life is more important than any Mitzvot

• This belief is known as Pikuach nefesh, a concept that represents the belief in the sanctity of life:

  • This means that Jewish people believe that life is holy and belongs to God, and only he can give it and take it away

• Jews believe that they have a duty to make the most of the gift of human life

• This means it is also a duty to save a person’s life if they can, even if doing so means that another mitzvah will be broken:

  • For example, a doctor can break the Sabbath to save a person’s life

  • Or food that is not kosher can be eaten in order to survive

• There are four exceptions for when mitzvah can never be broken, and they are murder, idolatry, incest and adultery, which are forbidden under any circumstances

• This idea of sanctity of life means that no actions should be taken to speed up a person’s natural death:

  • Any act of euthanasia or murder is not allowed

• Also, a person doesn’t have to be dying for a Jew to try to save them, as it can be a preventative act:

  • For example, organ donation is allowed as it could save someone’s life

• Many Jews aim to have a career where they can help in the saving of life, whether it be human or animal:

  • Careers such as health worker, aid worker, and police or fire officer all help towards pikuach nefesh