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Is praying to die because of depression or life circumstance considered a suicide attempt? Especially with Rosh Hashanah coming up, a lot of people will be praying to live, but for some that might not be their true hope. I have done this in the past and was wondering what the Halacha is. This Rosh Hashanah I am going to force myself to pray for a life without massive issues and that I should have a long life.
I think its very good people are trying to help each other (regardless of gender/religious outlook/etc…_ in this conversation instead of falling in the trap (myself included) of arguing over issues in the Jewish community.
The answer to the person who made the question is: When the pain of life is so large it out weighs the pain and fear of death. Suicide is very tempting at times, but we have to push off that temptation. I have often thought that if there is a Gehonim its better there than here, there you know what you suffer for, how long it will last, and there is nothing you can do to make it worse. Here none of that applies.
I don’t know your situation in life, but for me if I did such a thing it would destroy my kids, wife and parents. One thing to consider is that there are people who will still be here after you kill yourself. They will feel tremendous guilt that they should have done something. I know that may even sound good to you, maybe you blame them and want them to suffer, but it won’t be, other people you don’t blame will suffer to.
I know whats its like to feel this way as a teenager and an adult. I know whats its like to wake up every morning and say “life is Hell” as opposed to those who wake up and thank G-d they are alive. If you are not in therapy get a good therapist (not a rabbi who will talk about emunah but someone who is trained in this sort of stuff). My therapist is trying to get me to take one day at a time. The last couple of days when I start to think about all my problems I pushed them out. For Friday and Shabbat (I am in Israel that is weekend here), I purposely avoided dealing with anything. I am trying to put myself and my needs first and not worry 5 years down the road. I know this is easier said than done. Find what ever distractions you can so you don’t think about your problems (except drugs, alcohol, things like that). There is nothing wrong with saying, life is hard I want to forget about it in a video game or book. As long as you still do what you are supposed to (go to sleep on time, go to work, etc….). On shabbat when its harder because you can’t use any electronic things, find people to visit and play games with or read books. This will keep your mind of your problems. For anyone going through a lot of problems Shabbat is the hardest day of the week when you can’t veg out with electronics and are forced to look at your life.
Good luck.
edited
Does anyone know the halacha on passive suicide.? Is that considered suicide. For those who don’t know passive suicide is the idea that people don’t take care of themselves even thought they should becasue they would rather be dead.
For instance telling someone they should lose weight or they will die sooner. Since they are miserable they don’t lose weight because they don’t care (or are even hoping to) die. If someone makes such a decision are they considered as having committed suicide by halacha, or since its passive no.
I am not referring to people who should do something because of a tivah, I am talking about someone making a decision to smoke, or drink, lose weight, or not get a check up since they don’t want to do anything to extend their lives but are to scared to jump off a bridge (or don’t want to scar their kids/family by doing such a thing).