Anon asked Staff ago Is it true that in the Torah/Mishnah one is not forbidden to eat human flesh?
What is the opinion of the religious arbiters on the matter, and for what Halachic reason is it forbidden, if indeed it is?
As far as I know it is not forbidden at all, so isn’t this proof that there is human morality independent of any “divine” command?
Judah
jsadmin Staff answered 20 years ago
Dear Judah,
According to the Jewish religion there is no rhyme or reason behind the laws of kashrut (like the prohibition against pork) aside from the Jewish nation’s need to separate itself from the other nations. Rashi writes, “Rabbi Elazar the son of Azariah says: How do we know that a person should not say ‘I am disgusted by pig products, I do not want to wear mixed breeds,’ but instead should say ‘I want to eat [pig products], but what can I do if my Father in heaven has decreed [that I may not]?’ It is written, ‘And I shall separate you from the nations to be Mine’; your separation [from the gentiles] should be for My sake” (Leviticus 20:26).
To clarify the Halachic basis for the prohibitions and permissions on eating human flesh:
The religious arbiters were divided on the matter of human flesh. According to Maimonides (Laws of Forbidden Foods 2:3) one is prohibited by the Torah from eating it, while according to Nachmanides (on Leviticus 11:3) one is permitted. These opinions were brought in the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 79:1): “Human flesh is prohibited by the Torah, but there are some who maintain that human flesh is not prohibited by the Torah.” In the Talmud (Keritot 21b) it is explicitly stated that human blood is permissible for eating: “Rav Sheshet said, ‘There is no Mitzvah to refrain from eating the blood of those who walk on two legs, not even a mere stringency’.” [It is prohibited only as a directive by the Sages; the Sages permitted sucking blood from one’s finger, but if the blood fell on food it is prohibited, lest it be confused with animal blood.] (See more about this issue in the responsa of the Rashbesh, section 518.)
As for the human morality you wrote of, it seems you have not read what we wrote in the essay Morality in Halacha. We can only speak of morality (ethics) if it is human; the Jewish religion demands we negate human morality and conscience in the face of the divine will (as in the story of the sacrifice of Isaac).
All lessons in “ethics” and books of “morality” which are learned in the religious and Charedi communities are only a repetition and support for obedience to the laws and commands.
Sincerely,
Daat Emet