by Rabbi Shlomo Segal
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are that of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Union for Traditional Judaism, unless otherwise indicated.
This d’var Torah is part of Rabbi Segal’s podcast series. To listen to this podcasts, please find it in the Segal’s Sentiments archive here.
This week’s Torah portion is called Mishpatim. It introduces us to many principles which have shaped our Modern Legal system here in the United States of America.
One of those concepts is compensation for damages. A person is held liable for inflicting a bodily injury upon someone else and one is also responsible for any damage he/she might cause to another person’s property.
Our sages teach us that we may allow someone else to destroy our property and that person would not be held liable. But we may never allow someone else to cause any damage to our bodies. Even if you give permission to someone to do damage to your body they are still held liable (Mishnayot, Baba Kamma 8:7.)
So the question is what is the difference between our property and our bodies? We own our property and therefore we are free to do what we wish with it even if that means allowing somebody to damage it.
Our bodies however do not belong to us, they belong to God and therefore we have an obligation to maintain and take care of it. Over the last couple of years, we have heard a great deal about the Anti–Vaxxermovement, people who are opposed to vaccination, typically a parent who does not wish to vaccinate their child.
While many of these people are well intentioned I believe the movement is erroneous. Parents who refuse to vaccinate their children do a tremendous disservice not only to their children but to others who might contract whatever disease such a child might be carrying.
My friends, as Religious Jews we must always place our faith in God Almighty but our sages teach us the principle of Ein Somchin Al Ha Nes, one does not and should not rely on miracles.
The Torah urges us to protect our bodies and if there are methods out there that could prevent diseases and illnesses we have an affirmative obligation to take advantage of them.
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Rabbi Shlomo Segal is a member of the UTJ’s Panel of Halakhic Inquiry, which issues religious responses on behalf of the organization on contemporary issues, and vice president of Morashah, the rabbinic arm of UTJ.
Rabbi Segal is also a member of the International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF) and the New York Board of Rabbis.
In fall 2013, after a decade of pulpit experience, Rabbi Segal founded Kehilat Moshe, a liberal Orthodox congregation in the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn, NY. While still a new congregation, Kehilat Moshe has emerged as a diverse, multi-generational caring and intellectually stimulating community rooted in both pluralism and halakhah.
Rabbi Segal delivers a weekly commentary which you can find at kehilatmoshe.org and on YouTube. He was also interviewed on National Public Radio on the subject of “Swinging Chicken Ritual Divides Orthodox Jews”.