Type of Commandment: Love and Brotherhood - it's # 27 on the list
Commandment: Not to stand by idly when a human life is in danger
Where
does it come from: Leviticus 19:16 - in my study bible it actually reads "'Do not go about spreading slander among your people.' 'Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD'"
How might you follow
this?: I think that this could take a lot of different shapes, but it's probably a bit of a mindset. I think it's being willing to fight for others rather than be a bystander through their suffering (especially when their life is in danger)
Why might this
have been commanded in the first place?: I hate saying that these things are obvious, but I definitely think this one is pretty easy to see why.
What are some benefits to
following this today?: It's clearly good to have other people's backs - especially when their lives depend on it. It's the right thing to do and I think we owe it to one another to stand up for each other.
What are some drawbacks to following this today?: Um, it's really flippin hard! I'm thinking more on a smaller (non life threatening) scale for the most part here. Just speaking in generalities, I think we can all think of at least one time (if not many times) when we felt that we should have stood up for another person and we failed to do so. I saw a really great documentary at the Calgary Jewish Film Fest quite a few years ago called Wrong Side of the Bus. Basically it was a story about this man (who happened to be Jewish, which is why it was at the Jewish Film Fest) who grew up in South Africa during apartheid. He was reasonably young but he felt really guilty about not having done anything about it. So he went back to South Africa (he later moved to Australia) with his son to make the documentary as well as for his college (I think) reunion. It was an interesting, thoughtful story about how he feels about his behaviour as an "innocent bystander". It's definitely worth watching if you get the chance, although I bet it's super difficult to find.
I've heard a couple of times that Jews believe that if you save one life you save the whole world. I think it's a nice thought and we should consider it in more instances than just life and death situations. I sort of feel like as one human race we should do whatever we can to look out for one another. It might help us live together so much better, so I feel like it would be worth a shot. Like maybe it's not just if you save a life you save the whole world, but if you help feed a hungry person you feed the world or whatever else there is. I also think it applies to people's rights and stuff, like if we stand up and be counted for those who cannot or those who could use some support (like being supportive of same sex marriage and animal rights and whatever else there is), we would be so much better at living together.
I'm not totally sure that that last rant is really related to this topic, but there it is anyways! :)
Have a wonderful day everyone - Calgary has been just so darned beautiful today I hardly know what to do with myself. Oh, and Happy Mother's Day! Hope everyone was able to give and receive a little love in honour of the day - no matter who you shared it with!
