Jewish views on ESCR

[rayilynlee <rayilynlee@xxxxxxx>]

from a rabbi:

Rabbi Stanley Skolnik, Beth Sholom Reform Temple, Clifton 

"Judaism, as I believe and teach, places great importance upon human life and 
the preservation of the health and dignity of the individual in both life and 
death. A controlling principle governing most others, and even setting aside 
many cherished practices such as observing Sabbath restrictions, is called 
"pikuach nefesh" (the saving of life). It is from this principle that a host of 
permissive behaviors derive in order to protect or save life, and in the case 
of the use of fetal material (especially unused embryos) it would seem 
self-evident that the potential value of their use should override other 
considerations. 

A second Jewish principle which governs my beliefs is that of "bal tashchit," 
the Torah teaching that one should not waste or destroy anything of life or 
nature or of use to another. In this regard, I deem it unconscionable that an 
unwanted and unused embryo should be destroyed rather than respectfully used to 
improve human life and health. It is no different than discarding the usable 
organs of a dead person rather than transplanting them into the body of a 
living person who might benefit from a donated organ. It is not a question of 
when life begins, or even what constitutes death, but always how to save life 
while protecting the dignity of life and each human being.

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