Reply To: Suicide vs. Murder

Anyway, what are the sources for suicide being worse then murder? Again, it seems clear that one must kill oneself before killing someone else (conversely, one must save oneself before saving another).

My sources on this are, admittedly, not the best sources available. Here’s what I have. If you (or anyone else) can confirm or refute, I’d appreciate it.

— A suicide loses his share in Olam Habah. A murderer does not. I do not have a source for this, it is just “something I heard.” Admittedly, not the greatest of sources. I could easily be wrong.

— Josephus tells the story of the defenders of Masada who chose to die rather than submit to eventual slavery at the hands of the Romans. However, rather than having each person kill themselves, they chose to murder one another down to the last man (who, having no other option, killed himself). The choice to murder, rather than suicide, was because they felt that that was the lesser of two evils. Again, the defenders of Masada and Josephus may not be the best source… but it’s something.

— A murderer can be buried in a Jewish cemetery. Yes, those executed by Bais Din were buried in their own cemetery — but they were later reburied in their “proper” cemetery after a time. Furthermore, a murderer who was not executed by Bais Din is not barred from being buried in a Jewish cemetery — a suicide (who, by definition cannot be judged by a Bais Din) is.

The Wolf