Here's the joke: Moshe was called to pay a visit to the local (non-Jewish) mayor, and old friend who was now a powerful(ish) politician. When Moshe got there, the mayor was eating and asked Moshe if he would care to join him. "I must decline, Mr. Mayor, as the food is not kosher," said Moshe. After eating, the mayor poured himself some wine, again offering the same to Moshe. "I must decline again, Mr. Mayor, as the wine is not kosher," replied Moshe. "My goodness!", said the mayor, "So many rules! What if that is the only thing to eat and you are starving?!" "Ah," said Moshe, "if our like is at risk, then we are allowed -- even required -- to eat whatever will save our life." The mayor suddenly pulled a revolver from under the table and ordered Moshe, "Drink a glass of wine or I shall shoot you dead!" Moshe quickly quaffed a glass of wine. "Another!", roared the glaring mayor. Moshe complied with all haste. The mayor then put down the gun and started laughing at his little "joke". Moshe was furious! The mayor tried to calm him, "Please, old friend. It was just a little joke. Don't be angry with me." Moshe, still furious, replied, "And you couldn't have started your joke when the food was still out!?"
Here's the well know rule: There are only three sins for which a Jew must give up his life rather than transgress: (1) Publicly serving a false god. (2) גילוי עריות/certain narrowly defined sexual behaviors. (3) Murder. Why is he not required to give up his life rather than transgress other sins? Because the Torah says (Leviticus 18:5): וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֑ם/live by them (the mitzvos of the Torah). Given that, why is not one allowed to transgress those three? Ok, so that's tricky.
In another place it says (Leviticus 22:32): וְנִ֨קְדַּשְׁתִּ֔י בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל/I (HaShem) shall be sanctified amidst the Jewish people. From there we clearly see that publicly serving a false god is not allowed. Why גילוי עריות? Because the Torah likens the rape of woman to murder. Why murder? Here our Sages offer a penetrating insight to our place in this world: How do you know who's blood is redder? Rashi explains that to mean that it is impossible to know whose life is more precious to HaShem.
Really? REALLY? Are you seriously telling me that if Moshe Rabbeinu had been captured by heathens and told that they would execute him unless he killed Korach or Dassan or Aviram, that Moshe Rabbeinu would have been required to allow himself to be killed rather than murder those evildoers? Yes. What happened to וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֑ם/live by them? Interestingly, that is permission to transgress, not an imperative. On the other hand, וְנִ֨קְדַּשְׁתִּ֔י בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל is an imperative to sanctify the name/reputation of HaShem in this world. Every single Jew has that opportunity, and no human can judge the intensity of the sanctification.
In a horrifying situation like that, regardless of the decision, a Jew is going to leave the world. The imperative of וְנִ֨קְדַּשְׁתִּ֔י בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל will be compromised, the permission of וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֑ם doesn't kick in; transgressing the prohibition of murder is not an option. Suppose one Jew could save another by taking his own life. That would also not be permitted. Just as your blood is not redder than his, his is not redder than yours.
Because this world has a Creator, everything -- every Jew, every human, every animal, every plant, every planet, every star, every single atom -- is here by His Will and is here for a purpose. The Jewish nation -- which means each and every Jew -- chose to define itself as the nation who accepted the Torah. That acceptance makes each and every one of us a partner in the creation. We live by the Torah and we die by the Torah, because we are integrally intertwined with the Torah and our Creator.
Here's the well know rule: There are only three sins for which a Jew must give up his life rather than transgress: (1) Publicly serving a false god. (2) גילוי עריות/certain narrowly defined sexual behaviors. (3) Murder. Why is he not required to give up his life rather than transgress other sins? Because the Torah says (Leviticus 18:5): וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֑ם/live by them (the mitzvos of the Torah). Given that, why is not one allowed to transgress those three? Ok, so that's tricky.
In another place it says (Leviticus 22:32): וְנִ֨קְדַּשְׁתִּ֔י בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל/I (HaShem) shall be sanctified amidst the Jewish people. From there we clearly see that publicly serving a false god is not allowed. Why גילוי עריות? Because the Torah likens the rape of woman to murder. Why murder? Here our Sages offer a penetrating insight to our place in this world: How do you know who's blood is redder? Rashi explains that to mean that it is impossible to know whose life is more precious to HaShem.
Really? REALLY? Are you seriously telling me that if Moshe Rabbeinu had been captured by heathens and told that they would execute him unless he killed Korach or Dassan or Aviram, that Moshe Rabbeinu would have been required to allow himself to be killed rather than murder those evildoers? Yes. What happened to וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֑ם/live by them? Interestingly, that is permission to transgress, not an imperative. On the other hand, וְנִ֨קְדַּשְׁתִּ֔י בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל is an imperative to sanctify the name/reputation of HaShem in this world. Every single Jew has that opportunity, and no human can judge the intensity of the sanctification.
In a horrifying situation like that, regardless of the decision, a Jew is going to leave the world. The imperative of וְנִ֨קְדַּשְׁתִּ֔י בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל will be compromised, the permission of וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֑ם doesn't kick in; transgressing the prohibition of murder is not an option. Suppose one Jew could save another by taking his own life. That would also not be permitted. Just as your blood is not redder than his, his is not redder than yours.
Because this world has a Creator, everything -- every Jew, every human, every animal, every plant, every planet, every star, every single atom -- is here by His Will and is here for a purpose. The Jewish nation -- which means each and every Jew -- chose to define itself as the nation who accepted the Torah. That acceptance makes each and every one of us a partner in the creation. We live by the Torah and we die by the Torah, because we are integrally intertwined with the Torah and our Creator.
Comments