Abstract
Rabbi Akiva says: Anyone who commits murder diminishes the image of God, as it says, One who spills blood of a human, for the sake of the his blood will be spilt, for in the image of God, He made the human [Gen. 9.6]. Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah says: Anyone who does not engage in procreation diminishes the Divine Image, for it says, In the image of God, He made the human [Gen. 9.6], and it is written [immediately following], 'And as for you, be fruitful and multiply. Ben-Azzai says: Anyone who does not engage in procreation is a murderer and diminishes the Divine Image, for it says, One who spills blood of a human, for the sake of the his blood will be spilt, for in the image of God, He made the human, and as for you, be fruitful and multiply. Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah said to him: Ben-Azzai, words arefine when accompanied by practice. There are those who interpret well and behave well, and those who behave well but do not interpret well. You interpret well, but do not behave well. Ben-Azzai said to them: What shall I do? My soul desires Torah. Let the world continue by the efforts of others! (Tosefta Yevamoth 8.7; cf. Babylonian Talmud Yevamoth 63b)
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