Personhood
What is happening in this text?
What does this text illustrate about the worth of a fetus?
What does it mean that a miscarriage is considered destruction of property? How could this source be used as a legal precedent for justifying abortion?
Mishna Ohalot 7:6
"If a woman suffers hard labor in travail, the child (fetus) must be cut up in her womb and brought out piecemeal, for her life takes precedence over its life. If its greater part has already come forth, it must not be touched, for the [claim of one] life cannot supersede [that of another] life."
What does this text tell us about the personhood of a fetus?
When, according to this text, does a fetus achieve personhood status?
If a priest's daughter was married to an Israelite who died, she may perform her ritual immersion and eat terumah the same evening! R. Hisda replied: ... She performs the immersion but may eat terumah only until the fortieth day. For if she is not found pregnant (36) she never was pregnant; (37) and if she is found pregnant, (38) the semen, until the fortieth day, is only a mere fluid.
What is happening in this text?
At what time does the fetus take on additional significance?
Does this source provide a preferred timeline for when abortion could be performed? Yes or no?
(ה) כיצד מאימין (את העדים) על עדי נפשות. היו מכניסין אותן ומאימין עליהן. שמא תאמרו מאמד, ומשמועה, עד מפי עד, ומפי אדם נאמן שמענו, או שמא אי אתם יודעין שסופנו לבדוק אתכם בדרישה ובחקירה. הוו יודעין שלא כדיני ממונות דיני נפשות. דיני ממונות, אדם נותן ממון ומתכפר לו. דיני נפשות, דמו ודם זרעיותיו תלוין בו עד סוף העולם, שכן מצינו בקין שהרג את אחיו, שנאמר (בראשית ד, י) דמי אחיך צעקים, אינו אומר דם אחיך אלא דמי אחיך, דמו ודם זרעיותיו. דבר אחר, דמי אחיך, שהיה דמו משלך על העצים ועל האבנים. לפיכך נברא אדם יחידי, ללמדך, שכל המאבד נפש אחת מישראל, מעלה עליו הכתוב כאלו אבד עולם מלא. וכל המקים נפש אחת מישראל, מעלה עליו הכתוב כאלו קים עולם מלא. ומפני שלום הבריות, שלא יאמר אדם לחברו, אבא גדול מאביך. ושלא יהו מינין אומרים, הרבה רשויות בשמים. ולהגיד גדלתו שלהקדוש ברוך הוא, שאדם טובע כמה מטבעות בחותם אחד וכלן דומין זה לזה, ומלך מלכי המלכים הקדוש ברוך הוא טבע כל אדם בחותמו שלאדם הראשון, ואין אחד מהן דומה לחברו. לפיכך כל אחד ואחד חיב לומר, בשבילי נברא העולם. ושמא תאמרו מה לנו ולצרה הזאת, והלא כבר נאמר (ויקרא ה, א) והוא עד או ראה או ידע אם לוא יגיד וגומר. ושמא תאמרו מה לנו לחוב בדמו שלזה, והלא כבר נאמר (משלי יא, י) ובאבד רשעים רנה.
Know that capital cases are not like monetary ones. In monetary cases, [a false witness] can return the money and achieve atonement. But in capital cases, the blood of [the victim [and all his future offspring hang upon you until the end of time. For thus we find in regard to Cain, who killed his brother, "The bloods of your brother scream out!" (Genesis 4:10) - the verse does not say blood of your brother, but bloods of your brother, because it was his blood and also the blood of his future offspring [screaming out]! [Another explanation of the verse: for his blood was splattered over the trees and rocks [there was more than one pool of blood]. [The judges' speech continues] "It was for this reason that man was first created as one person [Adam], to teach you that anyone who destroys a life is considered by Scripture to have destroyed an entire world; any any who saves a life is as if he saved an entire world."
Does this source contradict the previous sources? Why or why not?
How could the last sentence in this source be used as justify prohibiting abortion?
How could the last sentence in this source be used to justify abortion?
From "Induced Abortion," The Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society Vol. 1 No.1, Spring 1981
"Indications for induced abortion can be divided into two categories, maternal and fetal...
a.) Maternal indications for abortion:
- The mother's life is endangered as a result of pregnancy or delivery.
- The mother's life is endangered by a disease pre-dating the pregnancy, which is exacerbated by it.
- A maternal systemic organic disease, exacerbated by pregnancy, but not life-threatening.
- Hastening of maternal death as a result of pregnancy.
- Maternal mental disease cause or exacerbated by pregnancy.
- Organic disease of an isolated organ, exacerbated by pregnancy.
- Extra-marital pregnancy.
- Social, economic, or other factors.
b.) Fetus-related reasons for abortion:
- Maternal diseases likely to cause fetal defects.
- An iatrogenic situation likely to cause birth-defects.
- Genetic disease of the fetus.
Birth
What was revolutionary about this commandment?
Does anything in this source strike you as problematic?
How do you interpret line 14? What could that mean today?
Why, according to this text do we only redeem the firstborn?
Does anything in this text strike you as problematic?