Episode 507 - 22 Nissan (Regular Year) - What Does Jewish Law Have to Say About Euthanasia?

In this episode of the It Is Taught Tanya Podcast, host Sarit Switzer explores Jewish law's stance on euthanasia through the lens of the foundational principle of piquach nefesh—saving a life. Drawing from Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi's Tanya, she emphasizes that human life is not self-owned but a sacred gift from God, entrusted to us temporarily. This understanding underpins Judaism's absolute prohibition of euthanasia and suicide, even in cases of extreme suffering. The episode contrasts this view with modern cultural narratives of bodily autonomy, arguing that true freedom lies in surrendering the ego to divine will. Central to this teaching is the Elokay Neshama prayer, which reinforces daily awareness of the soul’s divine origin and its eventual return to God. Switzer explains that the ultimate purpose of the Jewish soul is not individual existence but unity with God, a desire that becomes fully realized after death in Gan Eden, where souls are absorbed in divine wisdom rather than physical concerns. The episode concludes with a call to align daily actions—especially Torah study and mitzvot—with this deeper spiritual reality, recognizing that our true self is not the ego but the Godly soul yearning for oneness with its source.