Question: How does Judaism approach the relationship of the individual to his/her body? How much control does one have and what are one's obligations?
Answer: While the culture in the United States has swung toward patient autonomy over the past few decades, Judaism retains a markedly paternalistic view of medicine. The Torah states that the human body was created Bi'tzelem Elokim, in the image of God, and is the property of the Creator. Man is given custodial rights to his body, and has no more right to harm or destroy his body than the superintendent has to ransack the building he is hired to maintain.
This simple concept has applications in all facets of medicine. The Torah forbids tattooing because it permanently mars the body, akin to graffiti on a magnificent building (Leviticus, 19:28). Piercing of earlobes is permitted because it is not a permanent change and will heal if the posts are not continuously kept in place. Aesthetics aside, presumably any other body part may be pierced if the effects are not permanent. We see in the Torah that Rivka wore a nose-ring!
Suicide is strictly prohibited because the custodian may not prematurely destroy the body he is duty-bound to protect (Genesis, 9:5). By extension a physician may not hasten the death of a patient, not only because of his duty to preserve life, but because he has no right to destroy the property of another, in this case God.
One's custodial duties extend even further. A person must protect his body from harm and do everything possible to repair any damage that occurs. Therefore the individual is required to live a healthy life and to seek medical care when needed. Interestingly Maimonides was one of the earliest medical proponents of preventive medicine, clean air and environment, and the value of a healthy diet and exercise.
Jewish law encourages one to proactively guard one's body by undergoing diagnostic tests that have the potential to save lives, such as mammography and colonoscopy. One should also appropriately vaccinate oneself and one's children to avoid preventable disease. Dangerous activities such as cigarette smoking are forbidden by many halachic authorities, and strongly discouraged by the remainder. This is particularly true regarding cigarette smoking which causes sickness and death to third parties who are exposed to the second-hand smoke.
Judaism does not recognize the right to refuse effective therapy that does not carry significant risk. If a treatment for a dangerous condition is not expected to have significant side effects, one must accept the treatment. On the other hand, we are generally forbidden from performing dangerous experimental treatment on humans, unless the expected outcome will be therapeutic and no established alternative effective treatment exists. Also, a terminally ill patient in intractable pain may refuse a palliative treatment that has no reasonable expectation of cure.
One may not donate his body to science or to a medical school for the training of future physicians.
Even after death, the stewardship continues. The Torah requires immediate burial for everyone, including criminals (Deuteronomy, 21:23). Without a valid reason, no invasion of the body is permitted, because it is created in the image of God. The accepted opinion in Jewish law, formulated in the 18th century by Rabbi Yechezkel Landau, forbids autopsy and transplant unless an identifiable human life may be saved. Because one's body is not his property, the halachic consensus is that one may not donate his body to science or to a medical school for the training of future physicians.
One modern scholar who dealt with the prohibition of harming one's body was Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. While dieting for medical reasons is certainly permissible, Rabbi Feinstein examined the question of dieting for vanity alone, which deprives the body of the pleasure of eating and may involve substantial discomfort. He ruled that dieting, even if only to look thin, is permitted because the personal gain from the feeling of looking good is greater than the benefit one derives from eating the extra dessert!
While plastic surgery to correct deformities is certainly permissible, Rabbi Feinstein rules that plastic surgery is sometimes also permitted to improve self-image. He reasons that improved self-image is a tangible benefit that, in certain circumstances, may outweigh the prohibition on harming oneself.
So as we can see, the obligation to respect and guard our bodies extends far beyond just staying away from risky activities to include living a healthy lifestyle. It includes preventative medicine as well as actively treating illness. In fact, the requirement to respect our bodies continues even past death.
(20) dinny, November 10, 2019 5:15 AM
Is it true that humans are made of soul, spirit and body?
(19) David C, January 29, 2009 9:37 PM
Tattoos
Sara, Like any other sin that one has done full Teshuvah for - they are fully absolved by Hashem. Having a tattoo does not preclude any Jew from living life as a frum Jew to the highest levels. If the tattoo is of idolatrous symbols they should probably be covered before entering a Synagogue or removed. The person should consult your local Rabbi. Marc, There is no prohibition in removing a tattoo. Laser removal is recommended. DC
(18) Anonymous, January 19, 2008 10:47 PM
Transgender surgery
A member of our schul has undergone gender reassignment surgery after battling her identity. She said it was like having a woman's brain in a man's body and suffered in a way that I cannot fathom, yet she is a happy woman and very active in our congregation although most people do not know about her former condition. I cannot and will not judge her, do you?
(17) Sara, January 17, 2008 1:45 AM
This article was too 'Matter of Fact' it was too blunt. So many young people have tatoo's and this article could easily make them think they can't be involved with Judaism - it needed to expand and explain things further.
(16) Daniel Eisenberg, MD, January 16, 2008 11:32 AM
organ donation
There seems to be confusion regarding the Jewish approach to organ transplantation. I would encourage people to read my article ("autopsy") and Rabbi Simmon's article ("Organ donation") on this site for clarification.
(15) Leah, January 16, 2008 1:15 AM
Regarding the obeisty issue amongst religious sectors.....
I have to add to your points that it is TRUE that many religious, (mamash religious) Jewish girls (in particular),are obiese. To say the truth, literally, 35 - 40% of the girls at my HS in Cali are obiese. This is a problem that must be addressed because most responses you'll receive by school principals is that gym class or superflous excerise is NOT TZINIUS!!! and I find it ridiculous.... because most girls in my HS don't see at as a problem because I guess their apperance dose not matter.
Well whatever, this subject is so off topic so ill stop right here :)
(14) Daniel Eisenberg, MD, January 15, 2008 11:53 AM
a response
Thank you to everyone who wrote in with such thoughtful questions. I have discussed many of the issues raised in the comments in previous articles on the aish.com website. for instance, the article "Mandate to Heal" discusses the parameters of the doctor's permission to heal. The question of vaccination is dealt with at length in "The Ethics of Smallpox Immunization." Questions of live organ donation is discussed in the article "Live Organ Donation." Incidentally, the Jewish Observer (November, 2007) asked me to write an article that partially deals with the obesity epidemicin the Jewish world. That may be of interest to some readers.
(13) sharon, January 15, 2008 7:52 AM
Yes there is obesity in the religious world
Mike,
What makes you so sure that I "don't know many Jews who live according to the Jewish tradition"? I have lived in a black hat community in the U.S. for the last 18 years and I can assure you that obesity in the frum world not only exists, but is getting worse. Take a look at any issue of the Yated and notice how many of the men in the photos are overweight.
(12) Mike, January 15, 2008 6:34 AM
Religious Obesity?
I go to a Hesder Yeshiva in Israel with 150 students, of which maybe one is significantly overweight. Sharon (#1) asks, "Why is there so much obesity in the religious world?" There isn't. The only reason you think so is because you don't know many Jews who live according to the Jewish tradition. Anyone who lives in one community will always have negative sentiments against other communities that are different. The only thing is, that you should try to realize when your opinions flow from either antagonism or simply lack of connection to others who are "different."
(11) Joe, January 14, 2008 2:10 PM
And a second question
On live organ donation... No, I am not making a Monty Python reference...
Seriously though, we seem to have several traditions here that are in utter contradiction with each other, and I have never been able to find satisfactory answer to my question. So here are the traditions:
1. We bury our dead in the ground. In fact, we bury using simple coffins that will allow one to "return to dust." This means that the body becomes food for worms bacteria and other critters.
2. Even though we are very careful to recover bodies (and sadly, sometimes body parts), we do NOT hold that someone who was blown up, burned up or lost at sea - will be missing parts come Moshiach.
3. There is a prohibition against organ donation.
Question: If we do not hold that getting blown up or lost at sea damages your resurrection and when we do bury you properly, your corpse putrifies and gets eaten by various ucky things, how is it more preferable that your liver ends up in the belly of a worm rather than saving a life? Further, do we not believe that saving lives trumps most other considerations in the first place? My halachic point is that organ donation is not idolatry, renouncing Hashem or sexual immorality i.e. not one of the big three... Please explain this contradiction.
(10) sharon, January 14, 2008 1:59 PM
So why is there so much obesity?
If we are commanded to take care of our bodies, why is there so much obesity in the religious world? Why aren't rabbis speaking out against obesity to the same extent that they speak out against television, movies, the internet, and other ills of the the modern world?
(9) Joe, January 14, 2008 1:53 PM
You raise an interesting question
I am very curious about the halachot of "pulling the plug" on a life support patient who has no hope of recovery. For the sake of this discussion, say we have a case of brain death. If the principle is that a doctor may not hasten death, one might argue that you can not "pull the plug." On the other hand, had the patient not been placed on support in the past, they would certainly have alredy died, and in fact, their "life" has already been prolonged.
Of necessity, the question is even deeper than that. I chose brain death carefully when I asked. Imagine that some wound or disease has destroyed most of the patient's brain. It is gone. It will not grow back. There may be enough of the brain stem left to support some basic function, but thre is NO higher brain activity whatsoever, because that part of the organ has been destroyed.
Asking seriously, what exactly is made in the image of G-d? Surely, we do NOT mean the body itself (consider the discussion from Rambam of Hashem having no hand). We are left with concluding that it is human thought and free will that is made in the image of Hashem. So, we now are presented with a case where the patient no longer has that capacity and never will again. What is the law?More deeply, if we believe that we have a Neshama and we believe that we have free will and that physical actions affect the neshama and vice versa, what is the interface between neshama and body? (please don't say the pituitary gland!)
(8) genevieve, January 14, 2008 1:22 PM
awesome
i feel that our bodies are indeed not ours but the LORD'S I am very proud to be Jew and also a Jew of color. the sanctiity of the human body needs to recognized by all peoples
(7) Mark Douglas Obenour, January 13, 2008 5:38 PM
How do we do teshuvah If we have done this.
I was a rebellious biker in the past. I got my tongue and ears pierced and got two tattoos. How do we do proper Teshuvah knowing we were being rebellious and knew the commandment in Leviticus 19:28. Do we have to have our tattoos removed. If we want them removed are we being rebellious again?
(6) Anonymous, January 13, 2008 5:29 PM
Final Act of Generosity
I must respectfully disagree with the prohibition concerning donation of corneas, livers, etc after death, as well as donating a body to train future doctors. It seems a final act of generosity to others, rather than letting it rot and go to waste. My stewardship is ended; my body is dead, and the part of me made in G-d's image, the soul, has completed its journey.
(5) Anonymous, January 13, 2008 4:09 PM
vaccinations & testing is not neccessarily considered guarding your health according to halacha
One must ask a knowledgeable rabbi if vaccination is permitted due to the fact that the newer vaccinations are not for life threatening illnesses (chicken pox, flu) or for diseases one is unlikely to contract (hepatitis b) while all vaccinations carry some risk. In addition, I have heard of people being told by their competent orthodox rabbis that they are not obligated to undergo testing to look for illness. Doctors were given the "permission to heal" not permission to look for illness or to try to prevent illness in healthy people with risky vaccinations and procedures.
(4) Anonymous, January 13, 2008 1:54 PM
Abortion
Is abortion a part of the equation? It is not mentioned regarding damaging the body or the life of another. Thanks for your response.
Rose
(3) Anonymous, January 13, 2008 12:52 PM
Kol Hakovod! I was inspired!
This article, written with clarity and conviction will be greatly appreciated
by all who will read it. The author is showing a lot of insight on the subject.
(2) Anonymous, January 13, 2008 12:18 PM
Our Bodies- Gifts from G_d
I was surprised to know that "donating your body to science for medical training" was not acceptable in the Jewish ! Cremation was not addressed, but we have learned that this is also not an "option" in Judaism, since it would totally destroy the body we were given. We converted to Jewish faith, so I am curious how the Holocaust victims are viewed (since how their bodies were treated were not their choice)! Enjoyed the article. (So I'm guessing that having "purple or pink hair" is either in the "temporary" or "improve self image" category!)
(1) Anonymous, January 13, 2008 9:52 AM
Organ / blood donation?
I've been trying to figure out where organ / blood donation fits into all of this. Since blood, especially, is Holy and contains the essence of life - is it permissible to donate it? It could, after all save someone else's life... What about receiving blood? What if the donor is not Jewish? For organ donation, what about living (ie kidney) donation vs. post-death donation? What about receiving such organs? Thank you - any information / opinions would be greatly appreciated!