| (aided
by Rabbi Menachem Slae's collection of sources on the mitzva of maakeh,
"Safety Regulations in Building in the Halacha," pp. 6-14,
The Harry Fischel Institute for Research in Jewish Law, Jerusalem,
5745-1984)
8
Biblical Commandments relating to accident prevention:
1) Build a fence
around the roof of a house (Devarim 22:8) This also extends to command
protecting against any dangers.
2) Do not place blood on your house (Devarim 22:8), the negative
commandment for not protecting against danger
3) Watch yourself exceedingly (Devarim 4:9) The Rambam quotes this
(possibly based on Berakhot 32b) as a positive mitzva to avoid danger.
4) Do not stand idly by while your friend’s blood is spilled (Vayikra
19:6) This commands protecting another who is in danger of death.
5) Do not destroy (Devarim 20:19) The Talmud sees this verse (in
context referring to destroying fruit trees to build a ramp during
a siege) as relating to all forms of pointless destructiveness,
including doing things that physically harm our bodies.
6) Don’t put a stumbling block before a blind man (Vayikra 19:14)
Most see the simple reading of this verse as a metaphor for giving
bad advice or causing another to sin.
7) Damages caused by leaving an open pit (Shemot 21:33-34) This
is a mitzva on courts to judge cases involving compensation for
damages. This is limited to damages to animals in public places.
8) Returning a lost object to a friend (Devarim 22:2) -- and, the
gemara infers, certainly his body. To save one in danger is to return
him his life and health. Rambam also sees this as the command for
doctors to heal.
5 Jewish
values relating to accident prevention
1) Preserving life, ours and othersa cardinal Jewish value,
overriding most commandments in the vast majority of cases.
2) Forseeing future situations: Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai asked
his five greatest disciples to investigate the proper path for a
man to take in this world. Rabbi Shimon said, "He who sees
ahead." (Pirkei Avot 2:9) Efficient accident prevention means
taking the time to think ahead, deeply and systematically.
3) Taking responsibility, as Hillel says, "If I am not for
myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, who am I? If
not now, when?
4) Looking out for others, as Rabbi Akiva says, "Love your
neighbor as yourself," this is a general principle of the Torah.
This focus on helping and thinking about others is the central point
of Jewish ethics' emphasis on modeling ourselves after the Divine.
5) Patience
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