The Jewish Mitzvah of Pikuach Nefesh
The Daily Responsibility to Safeguard Human Life
© Jan Lee
Jun 30, 2009
When the Yom Kippur War began on the Day of Atonement in 1973, Israeli Jewish soldiers laid down their prayer shawls and prayer books to pick up arms to defend the state of Israel. What Jewish law motivated them to do this on the holiest day of the year?
The Mitzvah to Save a Life
Jewish law commands that one must act to save a human life. When one’s community and country are in jeopardy, ignoring a commandment to fast on the “Sabbath of all Sabbaths” is not sacrilege, it is, in itself a mitzvah, a requirement, even when it means taking up arms against an aggressor.
Saving a human life – what is referred to in Hebrew as pikuach nefesh (literally, to save the soul) – extends to many different aspects of life. And, as the Rabbis pointed out when the Mishna was compiled around 200 CE, it doesn’t only extend to the preservation of one’s neighbor’s life.
Pikuach Nefesh and Keeping Kosher
A modern-day example: During World War II, a young orthodox Jewish soldier found it was almost impossible to keep kosher while serving in the military. The foods in the mess hall often consisted of non-kosher foods: beef smothered in cream sauce, ham steaks, bacon and eggs swimming in pork fat and pork sausage.
Since Orthodox Jews don’t mix milk with meat or eat pork, he diligently avoided the food that was served. He eventually became sick from not eating. His brother came to the rescue, pointing out that preserving life takes precedence over religious laws and traditions. Jews are permitted to eat non-kosher foods when there is no other option, and one’s health is at stake.
But how is this applied to every-day instances? Most Jews aren’t faced with life-and-death battles as part of their everyday experiences; in fact, many Jews in this day-and-age don’t eat kosher. Yet the question of protecting one’s health does come up for the average observant Jew.
Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Shabbat in Times of Illness
Fasting from food and drink is a tradition during High Holy Days. But it is not a requirement if a health issue may worsen as a result of the fast. In fact, Jews are strictly forbidden from fasting in such instances. Thus many people who suffer from diabetes or other diseases are exempt from fasting during the Day of Atonement.
Jews attending religious services on Shabbat whose health may be put in jeopardy are expected to break the mitzvah of praying before eating, and eat before services begin. People requiring medications are expected to break the fast if necessary, to take essential medications.
The Mitzvah to Preserve the Mother’s Life During a Threatened Pregnancy
One of the more controversial rulings relates to abortion. According to Jewish law, the mother’s life comes first in cases of troubled pregnancy where the mother’s life may be threatened. Only if the mother is not expected to live will the fetus’s life be put before the mother’s.
Yet the Rabbis point out that it isn’t the certainty of illness that determines one’s actions, but the possibility of such danger. Therefore, doctors, fire fighters and other emergency personnel are permitted to work on Saturdays when their presence is deemed essential to safeguarding human life.
Pikuach Nefesh - All Human Life is Sacred
Pikuach nefesh does have its limitations, the most stringent being the question between inconvenience or discomfort, and actual urgency. Health and the safety of life takes precedence, say the Rabbis, not choice.
Jewish law does not distinguish between Jews and non-Jews: all human life is considered equal and worthy of being protected from harm.
Readers may also enjoy The Tanakh - the Jewish Bible.
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