Suicide in Judaism with a Special Emphasis on Modern Israel 英文参考文献.docVIP

Religions 2012, 3, 725–738; doi:10.3390/rel3030725 OPEN ACCESS religions ISSN 2077-1444 /journal/religions Article Suicide in Judaism with a Special Emphasis on Modern Israel Eliezer Witztum 1 and Daniel Stein 2,3,* 1 2 3 Mental Health Center Beer-Sheva, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Po Box 4600, Beer-Sheva 84170, Israel; E-Mail: elyiit@actcom.co.il Pediatric Psychosomatic Department, Safra Childrens Hospital, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 04393, Israel * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: danil49@.il; Tel.: +972-3530-2690; Fax: +972-3530-5129. Received: 29 June 2012; in revised form: 28 July 2012 / Accepted: 2 August 2012 / Published: 21 August 2012 Abstract: Judaism considers the duty of preserving life as a paramount injunction. Specific injunctions against suicide appear in the Bible, Talmud, and thereafter. Nevertheless, Jewish tradition emphasizes that one should let himself be killed rather than violate cardinal rules of Jewish law. Mitigating circumstances are found for the six deaths by suicide mentioned in the Bible, for example to account for ones sins, or avoid shameful death. Heroic suicide is praised throughout the Jewish history, from the suicide of Samson and the collective suicide in Masada, to the collective readiness of Jews in Medieval times and during the Holocaust to kill themselves rather than succumb to their enemies. Suicide rates for Jews are lower than those of Protestants and Catholics. Similarly, suicide rates in Israel are lower in comparison to Europe and North America, although being higher than those in most Moslem Asian and North African countries. This low rate of suicide is found in Jewish Israelis of all ages, including in adolescents. Elevated suicidal risk may be found in specific sub-populations, including male Israeli soldiers, immigrants from the f