GEN700 The rules and regulations governing suicide are discussed in at least two tractates of the Talmud.  In Baba Kamma 61a is found the following: “No Halakhah may be quoted in the name of one who surrenders himself to meet death for the words of the Torah.” Further in the same tractate (91b) we find: “…who is the Tanna that maintains that a man may not injure himself? It could hardly be said that he was the Tanna of the teaching: ‘And surely your own blood of your souls will I require’ [this verse] which Rabbi Eleazar interpreted to mean that I will require your blood if shed by the hands of yourselves (i.e., suicide), for murder is perhaps different …” Rashi interprets this scriptural verse to mean that even though one strangles oneself so that no blood flows, still I will require it. The major Talmudic discussion of rules governing suicide is found in chapter 2 of Semahot. Here we are told that we do not occupy ourselves at all with the funeral rites of someone who committed suicide willfully. Rabbi Ishmael said: “We exclaim over him “Alas for a lost (life). Alas for a lost (life).” Rabbi Akiva said to him: Leave him unmourned; speak neither well nor ill of him.” Further “we do not rend garments for him, nor bare the shoulder (as signs of mourning), or deliver a memorial address over him. We do, however, stand in a row for him (at the cemetery after the funeral to offer condolences) and recite the mourner’s benediction for him because this is respectful for the living (relatives). The general rule is that we occupy ourselves with anything that is intended as a matter of honor for the living …” ROSNER 323-4