Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline

Foreign Policy?

August 27, 2026

Q Is there a problem with buying life insurance?

A Many poskim say that taking out life insurance to provide for one’s family is not only permitted but obligatory. The Chovos Halevavos (Sha’ar Habitachon) teaches that while a person must place his trust in Hashem, he must work within the framework of teva: working to earn parnasah, seeking medical care, and shielding his family from foreseeable hardship—with the emunah that success comes entirely from Hashem.

R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe O.C. 2:111) rejects the notion that buying a life insurance policy reflects weak emunah and likens it to ordinary hishtadlus for parnasah. Just as one may not sit idle and expect food to arrive miraculously, he may not leave his family financially exposed on the assumption that Hashem will intervene supernaturally. He cites Chazal’s caution against davening for miracles (Brachos 60a) and compares that to praying for money without exercising hishtadlus. R’ Moshe adds that the very existence of life insurance may be seen as hashgacha, a mechanism Hashem placed in the world to protect families. R’ Shmuel Wosner (Sheivet Halevi 4:1) and R’ Ovadiah Yosef (Yechaveh Da’as 3:85) also advocate for life insurance.

Importantly, there is indeed a hanhagah, practiced by tzadikim gemurim, of absolute bitachon without the need for hishtadlus. But most people are not on that level and should not attempt it (Rav Wosner ibid.).

Some have raised the concern of al yiftach piv laSatan—that planning for death may itself invite misfortune. R’ Ovadiah Yosef responds that ordinary, responsible worldly conduct is not an invitation to harm. It is no different from purchasing burial plots and tachrichim in advance, which has long been normative practice (see Rivash 114).

Rav Yosef notes that one must make sure the policy itself does not generate problems, e.g., a provision requiring an autopsy before a payout. In certain investment-linked policies, there may be ribbis problems if the insurance company has significant Jewish ownership.