JLI Teens October 2011 Course Information

  Life on the Line: You Make The Call!

Description: 
This course engages students in a thought-provoking and engaging journey with some of life’s ethical challenges. The lesson structure is built to allow each student to review real-life news stories and share their views and opinions on each case. Students will render judgment on these real-life scenarios and then consider what ancient Judaism says about those modern-day dilemmas.

The students are presented with approaches to these dilemmas based on 3,000 years of Jewish tradition. The overriding theme of this course is Torah perspective on morality; man has obligations to G‑d and to his fellow, and is mandated to help preserve the life and well-being of those around him. Each lesson in this course also focuses the supreme value attributed by Torah to every human life. 

Each class begins with a real-life case study that challenges the student to confront moral issues such as: Am I obligated to save the life of a dying stranger? Should a person who saves a life be liable for damages made during the rescue? Can one person be allowed to die in order to save many others? 

The lessons are designed to be interactive as students are invited to explore questions and discover answers through learning activities, discussion questions, case studies, Biblical and modern texts and multi-media PowerPoint slides.

Outcome: 
Students will become familiar with Jewish law as it pertains to aspects of modern life. In addition, students will be challenged and inspired to review their own values and role in society in context of the idea that Jewish law stresses our obligations to other people in order to fulfill the mission of Tikkun Olam, partnering with G‑d to make a positive impact on the world.

Content:

Below is a description of the main theme of each lesson. Additional key questions and related conflicts arise from the main theme of each lesson, and an array of experiential learning activities provide sufficient content to allow each lesson to be presented into two or more parts.

Lesson One: Rights vs Obligations 
When I see another person in distress, am I obligated to help them? Judaism teaches that not only are we not meant to harm others, but we are obligated to help our fellow, even it if means personal loss or discomfort. In contrast, many modern systems of law stress the importance of upholding the rights of others, but do not address our obligations to each other.

Lesson Two: Life vs Property 
Am I permitted to damage or steal private property in order to save a life?This lesson explores the value of human life and the obligation to transgress all the Torah’s commandments (except for three) to save a person who is in danger. The Torah describes how one is allowed—even required—to save lives even at the cost of destroying property, but that compensation is required under specific circumstances.

Lesson Three: Suicide and Self Harm
Does a person have the right to do what they please with their life? Judaism’s view on suicide and self harm is based on the perspective that man is not the owner of his body; he is merely a custodian charged with the task of safeguarding G‑d’s property for the duration of his lifetime. This lesson also addresses whether or not a person is obligated to try and intervene when someone else is attempting suicide.

 

Lesson Four: My Life vs. Your Life
When faced with the choice of saving my own life or someone else’s, whose takes precedence? Other issues that arise out of this theme include whether it is ever morally acceptable to kill another person in order to save one’s own life; whether or not one has to put oneself in danger in order to help another person; and whether an individual can be sacrificed in order to save a group.

Lesson Five: Abortion 
What is Judaism’s position on abortion: Is the Torah pro-choice or pro-life? This lesson presents the Torah’s perspective on when life begins, whether at conception, at birth, or somewhere in-between. The question of whether there are conditions under which Jewish law permits an abortion is also addressed.

Lesson Six: Euthanasia 
Does Jewish law promote the concept of mercy-killing? This lesson explores the way we view the handicapped, infirm and those in the twilight of life; does Judaism value human life differently than animals or pets? Should we measure a human life by its utility or contribution to society; or is there an intrinsic value that applies equally to all life, and to every moment of life? Is a life that is severely limited “worth living?”