The beginning of human life : status of embryo. Perspectives in Halakha (Jewish Religious Law).
BACKGROUND
The Jewish religion is characterized by a strict association between faith and practical precept. Jewish law has two sections, the written and the oral tradition. The foundation of the written law and the origin of authority is the Torah, the first five books of the Scripture. It is an expression of God's revelation, teaching and guiding humanity. The oral laws interpret, expand, and elucidate the written Torah and behavior patterns regulate new rules and customs. The main parts of the oral law are as follows: the Mishnah, the Talmud, Post-Talmudic Codes and. Responsa Literature.


CONCLUSIONS
Life is a process that has a beginning and an end. The consensus about the time when human life really begins is still not reached among scientists, philosophers, ethicists, sociologists and theologizes. The scientific data suggested that a single developmental moment marking the beginning of human life does not exist. Current biological perspectives on when human life begins range through fertilization, gastrulation, to birth and even after. The development of a newborn is a smoothly continuous process.


RESULTS
Procreation is acknowledged in the Bible to be the gift of God. The (Halachic) Jewish interpretation of when human life begins is extracted predominantly from procreation is acknowledged in the Bible to be the gift of God. The Jewish interpretation of when human life begins is extracted predominantly from The Halachic sources. The Bible does not make any other direct references regarding the beginning of human life.


CONCLUSIONS
While the Talmud gives the full status of humanness to a child at birth, the rabbinical writings have partially extended the acquisition of humanness to the 13th postnatal day of life for full-term infants. The Babylonian Talmud Yevamot 69b states that: "the embryo is considered to be mere water until the fortieth day." Afterwards, it is considered subhuman until it is born. The issues of abortion, embryo research, multifetal reduction and cloning will be discussed according to Jewish Law perspectives. Life is a process that has a beginning and an end. The consensus about the time when human life really begins is still not reached among scientists, philosophers, ethicists, sociologists and theologizes. The scientific data suggested that a single developmental moment marking the beginning of human life does not exist. Current biological perspectives on when human life begins range through fertilization, gastrulation, to birth and even after. The development of a newborn is a smoothly continuous process.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical Centre, Jerusalem, Israel. schenker@cc.huji.ac.il
Joseph G
JG
Schenker
D033421:Beginning of Human Life / Q000941:ethics*; D019976:Cloning, Organism / Q000941:ethics; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000941:ethics; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007599:Judaism; D011247:Pregnancy; D018607:Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal / Q000941:ethics; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000941:ethics