Jewish Values and Bio-Ethics

In the Jewish view, God allows human beings to be partners in creating a better world and has given us the freedom of choice to do so. We are expected to use our God-given wisdom to help create a better world. The philosopher-physician Maimonidies in essence wrote: "God created food and water; we must use them in staving off hunger and thirst. God created drugs and compounds and gave us the intelligence necessary to discover their medicinal properties; we must use them in warding off illness and disease." One of the most sacred commandments is pikuach nefesh which can be understood as saving one's life is of utmost importance. For the Talmud says, "One who saves one life, it is accounted as if a world is saved."