Guard Your Life: How to Maintain Health at Home

1. Building a Railing

The Torah teaches us to value and protect human life in every possible way. That includes taking simple, practical steps to avoid accidents at home. One such step is the mitzvah to build a railing around the roof or staircase of a home.

It’s a positive commandment straight from the Torah, as it says in Devarim (Deuteronomy 22:8): “When you build a new house, you shall make a railing for your roof, so you will not bring blood upon your house if anyone falls from it.”

This mitzvah applies to any roof, terrace, or staircase that people use. The railing must be at least ten tefachim (handbreadths) high, which equals about 80 centimeters (approximately 31 inches). It also must be strong and secure enough that a person can lean on it safely. (Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpat, Laws of Guarding Life, 427:5)

If someone fails to install a railing on such a roof, they are not only ignoring a positive commandment, but also violating a negative one: “And you shall not bring blood upon your house.” (Choshen Mishpat 427:6)

This idea extends to other hazards as well. For example, if someone has an open pit on their property, it must be covered or fenced off. Anything that poses a risk of falling or injury must be addressed. As the Torah emphasizes, we are not allowed to ignore potential dangers because we have a personal responsibility to prevent harm on our premises. (Choshen Mishpat 427:7)

2. Keeping a Dangerous Dog

Halacha (Jewish law) also addresses the risks of keeping dangerous animals. It is forbidden to own a dangerous dog unless it is securely chained with iron chains at all times. (Choshen Mishpat 409:3)

Letting such dogs roam freely is extremely serious. The Talmud teaches that those who keep dangerous dogs remove chesed (kindness) from their home and lose the fear of Heaven. (Talmud, Shabbat 63a)

The consequences are not just spiritual. A loose dog can terrify people, and in some tragic cases, especially involving pregnant women, it can even cause a miscarriage. The Sages said (Bava Kama 83a), “Cursed is the one who raises dogs”—meaning dogs that can harm others. This behavior distances the Shechinah (Divine Presence) from our midst. May Hashem protect us from such tragedies.

3. Unsafe Ladders

Jewish law also forbids keeping a dangerous ladder in the house. This is based on the Talmud (Ketubot 41b), which warns us not to ignore any item that could lead to injury. A wobbly ladder or one with broken steps should be removed or repaired immediately.

4. Removing Hazards

The general principle in Jewish law is clear: Anything in your home that could endanger life must be removed. The Torah says: “Be very careful and guard your life.” This is both a mitzvah and a moral duty. (Choshen Mishpat 427:8)

If someone refuses to remove something dangerous like a vicious dog or unsafe ladder, the beit din (Jewish court) may place that person under excommunication until the hazard is gone. (Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Torah Study, 6:14)

The Sages prohibited many things because of the risk to life. If someone ignores those warnings and says, “It’s my life, I’ll take the risk,” or “I’m not worried about it,” the Jewish court may give disciplinary lashes. But those who take care and act responsibly will receive a special berachah (blessing) for their caution and wisdom. (Choshen Mishpat 427:9–10)