In Theory:

A recent poll from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that 54% of those who regularly attend church at least once a week said the torture of suspected terrorists was “often” or “sometimes” justified. Only 42% of people who seldom attend church services agreed. What does this say about religion’s role in how we perceive justice? And where do you, and your congregation, come down on this issue?

Religious values teach us that we have a fundamental responsibility to treat all human beings, even bloodthirsty killers, with basic decency. The fact that terrorists do not act in an equally humane manner does not free us from our obligations as a civilized society committed to moral integrity.

At the same time, however, we must protect the human rights of potential victims of terror. We should not let ourselves get caught up in arguments of moral relativism while an evil plan is brought to fruition that could cause much pain, suffering and death to innocents.

Faced with these two responsibilities, my primary concern is to first safeguard the lives of potential victims.

Typically, when we hear the word “torture,” we conjure in our minds images of medieval dungeons and black-hooded men employing indescribably cruel methods of mutilation that inevitably led to death. Obviously, these kinds of torture should never be used against anyone since doing so, as President Obama recently mentioned, debases our national character and undermines our claim to moral superiority.

In contrast, the “enhanced interrogation” techniques employed by the United States and other civilized nations are considerably different from torture as they cause only temporary discomfort.

I believe that we should never use torture, and if water-boarding fits into that category, then the practice should be banned. I also feel that we are morally justified to save lives by utilizing enhanced interrogation methods to extract information from potential terrorists.

This is an issue about which reasonable people can disagree, and I do not presume to speak for my entire congregation. But in my view, the temporary discomfort of the captives is far less important than protecting the lives of countless innocents.

RABBI SIMCHA BACKMAN

Chabad Jewish Center