Noahides and Health: Compassion or Free Market?
What kind of God’s Comm do I fulfill by treating the sick?
I know that ELKM created the Heavens and the Earth to stand a trial, a judgment.
I know that the angels watch me all the time and write my thoughts and deeds in ELKM’s book that open every RH and is read to the Court.
What Comm do I fulfill by treating the sick?
Let’s look at Adam’s Six Comm in the Book of Genesis
Healing the sick is not a part of IDOLATRY in Ch1,
Not a part of ADAULTERY introduced in the story of Eden
Not a part of BLOODSHED introduced by Noah and his generations
What about THEFT and Abraham stories?
Here we find relevance to healing the sick.
Abraham is said to plant a tree called Eshel,
The Hebrew acronym for Eating, Drinking, and Accommodating for the nights.
He built kitchen, hotels and also hospitals
To treat the poor free of charge. He did that not for his good heart
But rather out of his love for Hashem, for Her compassion and Mercy.
He did that unconditionally, asking nothing in return.
So here is a model of providing health,
out of Compassion to the poor and suffering,
Not unlike Albert Sweitzer.
I personally witnessed that kind of treatment in Mission Hospitals
In Africa. I served there in 1971-2 as a head of an eye team sent from
the State of Israel to the State of Malawi Central Africa. I saw there
The wonderful work done by the Mission Hospitals. You could see
a brand new shiny hospital in the middle of the bush, equipped
with the latest technology and instrumentation allowing us to perform
eye surgery in such remote and isolated areas.
No doubt that acting in the name of Mercy
may help to alleviate suffering such as blindness.
At the opposite oof Abraham stood Sodom and Gomorrah,
Who forbade helping the poor including the sick.
They claimed – in false piety and mockery –
That since sickness is brought upon us by God’s will
It is considered a sin to treat the sick. It was a crime punishable by death.
(there are some Christian groups that hold the same today.)
There is a story told about one oof Lot’s daughters,
Whose girlfriend became sick and was hospitalized.
Yet she was offered no medicine or treatment.
Lot’s daughter then used to come at night to the hospital
Bring with her food and medications to her sick friend.
When the Sodomites noticed that the sick girl continued to survive
They investigated the case and discovered Lot’s daughter unlawful actions.
When she was brought before the Sodomite Judge he smiled at her and said
“How sweet you are!” and he ordered her to be stripped naked, smeared by honey ,
Tied to the pole in the central plaza while a storm oof vicious bees were released around her. It is her cry which the Verse says that Hashem garbed Her Sword in horror saying She was coming down to see whether that cry was true. She was ready to overturn the city b/c of Lot’s daughter suffering.
The Talmud says that there was a difference ij philosophy between Abraham and Sodom.
In his compassion, Abrahm followed the slogan “yours is yours, and mine is yours.” I will give you everything you need,
The Sodomites believed in the slogan “mine is mine, yours is yours” implying we have no common property and not safety net. If you’re sick it is your trouble not mine.
Then came Jacob and changed everything.
On his way out to Haran he vowed
“If Hashem will bring mem back in peace
I will make Mercy and Compassion my Law.”
In other words- treating the sick will be dome not out of Mercy
But rather by the Law.
What law?
The Torah says