Pikuach Nefesh
In Judaism,
human life is essential and so pikuach nefesh, the obligation
to save a life in jeopardy, is considered a major value to uphold. This
obligation applies to both an immediate threat and a less grave danger
that has the potential of becoming serious. Pikuach nefesh is
derived from the biblical verse, “Neither shall you stand by the
blood of your neighbor” (Lev.
19:16). According to pikuach nefesh a person must do everything
in their power to save the life of another, even donate bodily organs.
Ovaday Yosef, the former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, ruled that
one may donate an organ to a person in critical need, so long as it
does not put the donor’s life at risk.
It is also permissible to travel on Shabbat to save a person’s life. Maimonides declared that a Jew should take the individual, even if a gentile is
present, in order to encourage “compassion, loving-kindness and
peace in the world” (Mishneh Torah, 2:3). The laws of the
Sabbath may be suspended to provide any necessary medical care to a
critically ill individual or to an individual in the likelihood of danger
to life. However, if a person has only a lesser infirmity or physical
ailment, any violation of Shabbat should be minimal or, if viable, performed
by a gentile. The laws of Shabbat may also be deferred for a woman who
has just given birth within the last three days, to provide more comfort.
A patient is allowed to eat non-Kosher food if it is essential for recovery and, on Yom
Kippur, a sick person is forbidden to fast if it will impair their
recovery and health.
The Talmud contains several instances where the laws of the Sabbath are to be broken
to save the life of another; these occasions include the rescuing a
child from the sea, breaking apart a wall that has collapsed on a child,
breaking down a door about to close on an infant, and extinguishing
a fire (Yoma 84b).
In the case that one must make the choice of saving
their own life or that of a companion, Rabbi
Akiva states that it is permissible to save your life and not the
other. This verdict was rationalized by the biblical verse, “Let
him live by your side as your kinsman.” Rabbi Akiva determined
that the verse implies that “your life takes precedence over his
life.” One can only become a martyr if the option is between death
and performing acts of idolatry, illegitimate sexual intercourse, or
murder (Sanhedrin 74a-b).
Sources: Eisenberg,
Ronald L. The
JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions.
PA: Jewish Publication Society, 2004.
Kolatch,
Alfred J. The
Jewish Book of Why/The Second Jewish
Book of Why. NY: Jonathan
David Publishers, 1989.
Wigoder, Geoffrey
, Ed. The
New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia.
NY: Facts on File, 1992. |