The Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue has expressed “deep concern” that the End of Life Bill could lead to the undermining of the “sanctity of life” and put vulnerable individuals at risk.
The bill would legalise medically assisted death for terminally ill adults in England and Wales who are expected to die within six months.
It passed its third reading in the House of Commons last month and will now progress to the House of Lords for full scrutiny before returning to the Commons and, if approved by both houses, could receive Royal Assent and become law by the end of 2025.
In a statement, the Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue said they recognised the passing of the bill as “in keeping with and motivated by the attributes of compassion and lovingkindness”, two values that are “essential to the foundation of a just and moral society”, according to the Talmud.
However, the body warned that it was “deeply concerned” the bill neglected the third fundamental Jewish value of “moral caution”.
“Even the most well-intentioned laws can carry unintended consequences,” the US Rabbinical Council said. “In seeking to reduce suffering, we fear this legislation risks eroding the profound societal value placed on the sanctity of life. Vulnerable individuals may feel pressure – subtle or overt – to view their lives as burdensome or expendable. Furthermore, as a society, the erosion of the value of life as a sacred treasured gift can have untold dangerous consequences.”
The body stated it remained committed to both dignity in dying and the sanctity of life and urged the government to “act with great caution” regarding the bill and to include faith communities in discussions on this issue.
In seeking to reduce suffering, we fear this legislation risks eroding the profound societal value placed on the sanctity of life
They added that, having witnessed firsthand “ the pain, fear and helplessness that can accompany end-of-life care”, they stood with those campaigning “ever greater access to high-quality palliative care and dignified support at life’s end”.
The bill, which narrowly passed by 314 votes to 291 after several hours of debate, has been met with a mixture of apprehension and support from the religious authorities of other Jewish denominations.
Prior to the bill’s second reading in Parliament in November, the Chief Rabbi wrote to MPs, calling the implications of the bill “a fundamental moral challenge to our society, which I believe should trouble people of all faiths and none”.
Co-leads of Progressive Judaism Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy called the bill “among the most challenging ethical and theological issues of our time” and said Progressive clergy “represent a breadth of opinion on this complex issue”.
Masorti’s Rabbi Jeremy Gordon, representing the movement, told the JC that he was “deeply concerned that the much-vaunted safeguards are not safe” and the bill risked putting the elderly and the weak “in an incredibly vulnerable position”.
Meanwhile, Reform’s Rabbi Jonathan Romain, who is chair of the Religious Alliance for Dignity in Dying, said his support for the passing of the Bill was “guided by the religious ideal that you shall not force people to have a bad death when they could have a better option if they so wished”.
Rabbi Joseph Dweck of the S&P Sephardi community was approached for comment.
