There is a commandment in the Torah that prohibits us from standing by idly while another is suffering; "don't stand on the blood of your friend".
It is interesting, in American law there is no law obligating a person to help another nor can one be held accountable for not helping with the exception of a very specific cases such as one who's job it is to protect individuals; e.g. a police officer. In contrast however, Judaism obligates us to help another in need. It is only this obligation that forces us to take responsibility and act. True there will always be those individuals that act selflessly when the moment calls for it however sadly they will be the exception. When we know that we have an obligation, when we know that there will be real consequences only then will our actions reflect these values. Without that reality it is inevitable that we will continue to hear incidents of people standing by while another suffers or tragically dies. Today's front page of the NY Post features a photo of a man in the NY subway about to struck and killed by a train. The person not only refrained from helping, which may very well have been futile, but had the sensationalistic urge to capture the moment with a photo. This "Instagramism" approach to our lives is an entirely different problem however it is a natural outgrowth of this neutral almost voyeuristic approach to our surroundings. We are not merely spectators to our world, Judaism says clearly that we are caretakers. We are responsible for all those around us and to be responsible means we must, we have no choice, other than to stand up for any that are in both physical, emotional or spiritual danger.
It is interesting, in American law there is no law obligating a person to help another nor can one be held accountable for not helping with the exception of a very specific cases such as one who's job it is to protect individuals; e.g. a police officer. In contrast however, Judaism obligates us to help another in need. It is only this obligation that forces us to take responsibility and act. True there will always be those individuals that act selflessly when the moment calls for it however sadly they will be the exception. When we know that we have an obligation, when we know that there will be real consequences only then will our actions reflect these values. Without that reality it is inevitable that we will continue to hear incidents of people standing by while another suffers or tragically dies. Today's front page of the NY Post features a photo of a man in the NY subway about to struck and killed by a train. The person not only refrained from helping, which may very well have been futile, but had the sensationalistic urge to capture the moment with a photo. This "Instagramism" approach to our lives is an entirely different problem however it is a natural outgrowth of this neutral almost voyeuristic approach to our surroundings. We are not merely spectators to our world, Judaism says clearly that we are caretakers. We are responsible for all those around us and to be responsible means we must, we have no choice, other than to stand up for any that are in both physical, emotional or spiritual danger.
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