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Memnoch · 02-02-2004, 08:24 PM

In your "Ask the Rabbi" answer to a Christian woman (Laurie Summers), dated 2/1/2000, you said (in reference to nuns, priests and monks remaining celibate and the Christian religion often seeing the world as something painful and to be feared), "The Talmud says if a person has the opportunity to taste a new fruit and refuses to do so, he will have to account for that in the World to Come." What is your stance on the use of (America's) illegal substance laws? I'm vigorously straight edge (someone who does not partake in the ingestion of alcohol, drugs, etc for the sake of altered states of mind), and it seems your explanation not only condones but promotes the use of these substances. I realize that Jews are required by their religious laws to adhere to the laws of the countries they live in. Assuming these illegal substance laws *weren't* in place, what would be your position? Can you help me out here?

-----Response-----

Good question. Even so, illicit drug use would still not be permitted by Jewish law, as it is a violation of several commandments such as:

1) It harms the mind and body. This is a violation of "Ushmartem Es Nafshotaichem" - the Torah commandment to guard one's health (Deut. 4:15). There are medical studies relating to marijuana smoking to infertility and/or birth defects. Even if a drug, such as marijuana, does not harm the bodies of certain individuals, it certainly impairs them mentally and leads to faulty understanding, and laziness in Torah and Mitzvahs.

2) Drugs often create a great craving to eat food, even when one isn't hungry. This may lead one to gluttony, which the Torah warns against in the case of the rebellious child. (Deut. 21:18)

3) Drugs create other cravings and to relax one's moral guard, which breaks the commandment of "Don't go after your hearts and eyes," which means that we are to keep our physical drives in check.

4) One who does drugs (depending on the situation) breaks the commandment to honor your mother and father. (Exodus 20:12 and Deut. 5:16)

5 Doing drugs is also in violation of the commandment "to be holy," according to the interpretation of Nachmanides. (Leviticus 19:1)

(see Rabbi Moshe Feinstein - Igros Moshe Yoreh Deah 3:35)

All the best,

Rabbi Tuvia Hoffman
Aish.com

02-02-2004, 08:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Memnoch Insane Location: Land of milk and honey - Wisconsin	A Biblical look at Illicit Drug Use In your "Ask the Rabbi" answer to a Christian woman (Laurie Summers), dated 2/1/2000, you said (in reference to nuns, priests and monks remaining celibate and the Christian religion often seeing the world as something painful and to be feared), "The Talmud says if a person has the opportunity to taste a new fruit and refuses to do so, he will have to account for that in the World to Come." What is your stance on the use of (America's) illegal substance laws? I'm vigorously straight edge (someone who does not partake in the ingestion of alcohol, drugs, etc for the sake of altered states of mind), and it seems your explanation not only condones but promotes the use of these substances. I realize that Jews are required by their religious laws to adhere to the laws of the countries they live in. Assuming these illegal substance laws weren't in place, what would be your position? Can you help me out here? -----Response----- Good question. Even so, illicit drug use would still not be permitted by Jewish law, as it is a violation of several commandments such as: 1) It harms the mind and body. This is a violation of "Ushmartem Es Nafshotaichem" - the Torah commandment to guard one's health (Deut. 4:15). There are medical studies relating to marijuana smoking to infertility and/or birth defects. Even if a drug, such as marijuana, does not harm the bodies of certain individuals, it certainly impairs them mentally and leads to faulty understanding, and laziness in Torah and Mitzvahs. 2) Drugs often create a great craving to eat food, even when one isn't hungry. This may lead one to gluttony, which the Torah warns against in the case of the rebellious child. (Deut. 21:18) 3) Drugs create other cravings and to relax one's moral guard, which breaks the commandment of "Don't go after your hearts and eyes," which means that we are to keep our physical drives in check. 4) One who does drugs (depending on the situation) breaks the commandment to honor your mother and father. (Exodus 20:12 and Deut. 5:16) 5 Doing drugs is also in violation of the commandment "to be holy," according to the interpretation of Nachmanides. (Leviticus 19:1) (see Rabbi Moshe Feinstein - Igros Moshe Yoreh Deah 3:35) All the best, Rabbi Tuvia Hoffman Aish.com Last edited by Memnoch; 06-05-2008 at 04:31 PM..