3

Is it permissible to sacrifice one's own life to save another? There are many noble examples that come to mind, such as donating your heart to save a child or throwing yourself on a grenade. Is this considered shvichat damim, and thus in the category of sheiv v'al ta'aseh?

Improve this question
1
  • I think it could be useful to add to this question: Is it permissible to do something very risky to save someone's life? For example, a gunman starts firing in a room, may you shield your wife from the bullets?
    – Daniel
    Commented Jul 27, 2012 at 16:35

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
4

It is forbidden to commit suicide, even for a noble purpose. When it comes to saving another Jew's life at the expense of one's own life, the halachah tells us that there is no way for humans to calculate whose blood is more precious in G-d's eyes. Therefore, one must always follow the passive path if one person will certainly die. If it is possible that both people will be saved, the question is more complex: the poskim discuss if it is permissible to put oneself in danger to save another person from certain death. A lot depends on the relevant practical conditions, and one must consult a knowledgeable posek.

Improve this answer
0
1

In wartime it's a different matter.

In peacetime, one who puts themselves in "severe danger" to save a life is termed a "chasid shoteh", a "super-righteous lunatic."

Need to add more, including sources. Watch this space.

Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    Have you got a source?
    – Isaac Moses ♦
    Commented May 18, 2010 at 2:43
  • 5
    Still watching. ;-)
    – HodofHod
    Commented Nov 27, 2011 at 8:11

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .