It can be and should be said simply. This nation absolutely has the responsibility to insure that its residents have access to proper preventative and curative health care. It is inconceivable that the greatest nation in the world -- the one that went to the moon, that offers its citizens freedoms that others in the world can only dream of, whose citizens can pour billions of dollars into entertainment of all kinds, a country that spends so much money on prisons, that engages in military activity and humanitarian actions throughout the world -- can allow so many of its own citizens to be denied the benefits of medical care that is accessible to others.

I will not offer an opinion here as to how this can best be achieved. I will not enter into the current debate from the bima except to say that those who reduce this to a political issue, or who knowingly mislead others about what someone else believes, or who refer to death panels and to Hitler and Nazis are reprehensible. Yes there are concerns, especially in these difficult economic times. Let�s talk about the issue like adults -- acknowledging that it will not be easy, that there will have to be sacrifices by many, but that it has to be done and until it is done we will continue a shameful reality in this nation.

Our Torah portion teaches Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof (Justice, Justice shall you pursue). In the Torah and in our tradition, justice is not an abstract term and it is not just used to refer to punishing the guilty and acquitting the innocent. It means setting up a society in which people are treated fairly and equally, in which the rich and poor are treated alike, where there is one law for everyone and no one is excluded.

This is very much a Jewish issue. In 1997, the Rabbinical Assembly wrote a teshuva, a statement of Jewish Law, on the issue of access to health care for all. No, our government doesn�t have to follow Jewish law. But the wisdom of our tradition can add to this or any other debate.

The conclusion of the teshuva is that the obligation to heal falls on all of us: family members, physicians, community. It is an obligation for all of us to keep ourselves healthy to the extent possible and to use our own resources to the extent possible to access healing. But it also states clearly that the community and, in this case the nation, has the responsibility -- in whatever way it can best accomplish it -- to insure that those who can�t otherwise have access to health care should be provided it without question.

This is justice.

Yes, there are many issues. The devil is most surely in the details, but that should not and cannot deter us from doing what is right.

And what is right is to make sure that each person has access to health care in this great country.

You can find the complete teshuva (halachic, Jewish legal, discussion) by clicking here. The entire teshuva is fascinating. Please note that the teshuva ends with conclusions and a summary of the conclusions which form general statements on the provision of health care in Jewish law.

The statement below was issued by Faithful Health Care Reform coalition of which the Rabbinical Assembly is a member. This statement embodies the principles that the RA has articulated in its resolutions and writings over the years.

A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care

We, as people of faith, envision a society where each person is afforded health, wholeness, and human dignity. That vision embraces a health care system that is inclusive � accessible � affordable � and accountable.

Vision � Inclusive: Health care is a shared responsibility that is grounded in our common humanity. In the bonds of our human family, we are created to be equal. We are guided by a divine will to honor each person�s dignity and to live together as an inclusive community. Affirming our commitment to the common good, we acknowledge our enduring responsibility to care for one another. As we recognize that society as a whole is healthy only when we care for the most vulnerable among us, we are led to discern the human right to health and wholeness. Therefore, we are called to act with compassion by including everyone in the sharing of our abundant health care resources.

Vision � Affordable: Health care must contribute to the common good by being affordable for individuals, families and society as a whole. We believe that in the sacred act of creation we are endowed with the talents, wisdom and abundant resources necessary to meet the needs of one another, including the health care needs of all. Therefore, in our calling to be faithful stewards, we understand our responsibility to use our health care resources effectively, to administer them efficiently, and to distribute them with equity.

Vision � Accessible: All persons should have access to health services that provide necessary care and contribute to wellness. We believe humanity is sacred and that all persons should benefit from those actions which contribute to our health and wholeness. Therefore, we are called to act with justice and love, to ensure that all of us have access to the health care we need in order to live out the fullness of our potential both as individuals and as contributing members of our society. We must work together to identify and overcome all barriers to and disparities in such care.

Vision � Accountable: Our health care system must be accountable, offering a quality, equitable and sustainable means of keeping us healthy as individuals and as a community. We believe that as spiritual and sacred vessels, we are responsible for the care of our bodies to the best of our ability and for the care of one another regardless of individual circumstances. Therefore, individuals, families, governments, businesses, and the faith community are called to work in partnership for a system that ensures fully-informed, timely, quality and safe care that treats body, mind and spirit.

Robert Dobrusin, Rabbi
Copyright © 2009, Robert Dobrusin.
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This message was originally posted on September 1, 2009.

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