Ending one's own life, should it be done?

Gems from Sefer Mitzvot Hashem

Man must understand that life was not given to him solely for his own needs and pleasures. The Holy One, blessed be He, grants life and breathes the soul into each of us, not just so we can satisfy our own desires, but so that we can live to benefit all of creation. We may not fully understand what great and honorable purpose we are destined for, but who knows how many souls we could help, how many lives we could touch, if we stay alive and fulfill our mission?

גם צריך האדם לידע, שהחיים לא ניתן לאדם רק לצורך עצמו ותענוגיו לבד, כי אם הקב"ה נותן לאדם החיים ונפח הנשמה באפו, שיחיה גם כדי להיטיב עם כל הברואים, ומי יודע לאיזה ענין גדול ונכבד הוא מוכן ומיועד, וכמה נפשות שהיה יכול להציל, אם ישאר בחיים.

These words from Rabbi Yonasan Steif's Mitzvot Hashem¹ have been a guiding light for me. As someone who has dedicated significant time to studying this precious work of Rabbi Steif, I can say that his teachings about life’s sanctity are as relevant today as they were when he wrote them over a hundred years ago². In his sefer, he doesn’t just talk about laws³; he talks about the deeper reasons behind them—the divine purpose behind each life.

Rabbi Steif's work is not just about prohibitions and obligations; it's a call to recognize the incredible value of life, a value that extends far beyond our own personal comforts. His teachings show that we are all here for a reason, and that reason often involves helping others in ways we may never fully understand. Even if someone isn’t contemplating suicide or struggling with despair, this message remains deeply encouraging: that our lives are filled with divine purpose, even in the moments we may feel lost.

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The Rise in Suicide and Its Impact on Society

In recent years, suicide rates have risen dramatically. According to the WHO⁴, suicide was responsible for about 1-2% of deaths globally in 2008. When you look at the statistics from 1920⁵, suicide accounted for less than 1%. Over the last century, this percentage has nearly doubled, and the reasons behind this are complex. Increasing societal pressures, mental health struggles, and the disturbing normalization of euthanasia all play a role in this tragic trend.

It’s painful to think about how many young people, some as young as high school students, feel so hopeless that they attempt suicide. A shocking 10% of high-school aged youth have made at least one suicide attempt⁶. I know it’s hard to face these realities, but we can’t shy away from them. Rabbi Steif’s teachings, however, offer a different perspective: that no matter how difficult life may seem, there is always more to life than what we can see in a moment of despair. The potential for goodness, for growth, and for helping others is always there.

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The Dangers of Euthanasia: A Growing Concern

I feel compelled to share something troubling I’ve recently learned. In Israel, both the Ministries of Education and Health are reportedly looking into introducing euthanasia into the medical school curriculum. This includes discussions about its acceptability, its ethics, and even how it might be framed as a compassionate choice.

A message shared in local groups highlighted the situation well:

My daughter is studying clinical psychology for her master’s degree, and they recently had a long discussion about euthanasia⁷ in one of their lectures. When I faced my third cancer diagnosis, I filled out a form requesting no resuscitation, but that was a personal choice. What’s unacceptable is when a doctor or therapist suggests ending a life. I had a Maccabi⁸ doctor once suggest I ‘jump off a building,’ and I left her office upset. It was completely inappropriate.

One of the other commenters responded to this message, "Exactly! This is part of a larger agenda to normalize euthanasia and to push it onto the next generation of doctors and therapists."

It’s hard to hear such things, especially when you know that euthanasia is being promoted not just as a medical option, but as a “peaceful” or even “honorable” choice⁹ for ending one’s life. This is incredibly dangerous. The truth is, euthanasia is neither peaceful nor painless. It’s a choice that goes against the very fabric of what it means to value life.

The fact that some in the medical field are presenting euthanasia as an acceptable way out of suffering is heartbreaking. But we can’t ignore it. We need to stand firm in our belief that life is sacred, no matter the challenges it presents. No matter how difficult it becomes, we must always choose life.

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A Message of Hope: Choose Life

The goal of this message is not to dwell on the negative, nor is it to focus solely on the harsh realities we face. What I want to remind everyone—especially those who may be struggling with despair or contemplating difficult choices—is that there is always hope. No matter how dark things may seem, as long as you are alive, there is still time to turn things around. There is always the chance to return to Hashem, to choose life, and to fulfill the divine purpose He has set for you.

Rabbi Steif’s teachings urge us to recognize that we are not here by accident. Every person has a unique mission, and it is a tragedy to abandon that mission before we’ve had the chance to complete it. The sages¹⁰ teach us , “Repent one day before you die.” This means that as long as there is life in us, we have the chance to turn back, to make better choices, and to choose goodness. Hashem, in His infinite kindness, gives us the ability to choose between good and evil—and it is always within our power to choose life.¹¹

What is Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Smith’s Vision
80 Billion men and women serving G-d Al-mighty with the spiritual leadership of the Jewish People and a fully built and functioning Beis HaMikdash in Yerushalayim.

1. Part 2, Siman 1, section 123.

2. The sefer was originally published in Budapest in 5691 (1931), although according to some sources parts of the sefer may have been written as early as 5658 (1898).

3. The topic is prevalent throughout the sefer, but in particular he dedicates 10 sections (119-128) to discussing suicide and how the Torah views it.

4. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/3/760

5. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsushistorical/mortstatsh_1920.pdf

6. https://afsp.org/suicide-statistics/

7. The original Hebrew message used the expression “dying with dignity” a translation of למות בכבוד

8. One of the Israeli national HMO’s

9. https://www.thegoldreport.com/news/the-harsh-reality-of-euthanasia-exposing-the-myth-of-a-peaceful-passing

10. Pirkei Avot 2:10

11. Paraphrasing Deuteronomy 30:15-19