ANSWERS
(1) Q: an the laws of Shabbat be superseded? Give two reasons why exceptions must be made.
A: We learn that the laws of Shabbat may be superseded if a person becomes life-threateningly ill and must be rushed to hospital, for example. Sources 1 and 2 are brought in the Talmud as proofs of this principle.
Source 1 (Exodus 31:16) teaches that Shabbat is to be observed in a manner that enables us to observe it throughout the generations ('le-dorotam'). From here, we learn that it is better to violate one Shabbat and preserve life – in order to be able to observe many more in the future.
Source 2 (Leviticus 18:5) explains, "And you shall live by them." The Talmud expounds from this: "and not that you shall die through them." This explanation gives us deeper insight into the intention of God's Law. Torah is our source of life in this world and the next. If it is clear that observance of a specific mitzvah will lead to certain death, then in that particular instance God would not want us to fulfil the law. We must opt for the greater good and choose life.
(2) Q: For which three sins must a Jew be prepared to give up his or her life rather than transgress?
A: The three sins for which a Jew must be prepared to give up his or her life rather than transgress are:
- Sexual immorality – gilui arayot
- Murder – shefichat damim
- Idolatry – avoda zara
(3) Q: How could the nature of a threat to the Jewish people affect our approach to martyrdom?
A: Our Sages tell us that it is important to consider the goal of those who seek to destroy the Jewish people, and to respond to the threat accordingly. If they want to destroy us spiritually, then we must stand firm and abide by our religious principles, even at the pain of death. However, Rabbi Blech observes that in the time of the Holocaust, the aim of the Nazis was different. The Nazis aimed to destroy the Jewish people in their entirety. Thus the mitzvah for Jews in the Holocaust was to live. Life, above all other considerations, would ensure the continuity of the Jewish people.
(4) Q: How do the different ways we celebrate the festivals of Chanukah and Purim reflect our responses to different types of attacks against the Jewish people?
A: Candles are the symbol of the soul. On Chanukah, there was an attempt to destroy the Jews spiritually. Since we survived spiritually, we light candles to commemorate our victory. On Purim, when our enemies sought to destroy us physically, we rejoice by having a meal. We rejoice because we are still here and can eat and drink. The method of observance of these two festivals takes into account the nature of the threat from which we were saved.
(5) Q: Jacob is given two names in the Torah – Yaakov and Yisrael. What aspects of Jacob's character do these two names represent?
A: The name 'Yaakov' means 'heel,' from the root meaning 'to follow.' Yaakov was non-confrontational, "a quiet man, dwelling in tents" (Genesis 25:27). Without his mother's insistence, Yaakov would not have chosen to take the birthright blessing from Esav, his undeserving brother. Later, when threatened by his brother, Yaakov chose to flee to safety peacefully, rather than confront Esav.
Yisrael means "fighter for God." The name Yisrael represents the Jew who acknowledges that there is a time when we must fight for what we believe in.
(6) Q: How are the two names of Yaakov and Yisrael manifest in the Jewish people today?
A: In Ecclesiastes (Kohelet), we are told: "There's a time for peace and a time for war." The man of peace is Yaakov; the man who fights is Yisrael.
When we pray, we refer to the God of Avraham, the God of Yitzhak and the God of Yaakov. Ultimately our aim is to dwell as a peaceful nation who serves God by learning and keeping His torah. That is our ideal.
In reality, those who seek to destroy the Jewish people demand that we act as Yisrael, fighting for our beliefs and protecting our survival as a nation. By acting as "Yisrael" when we need to, we ensure that the time will come that we can live as "Yaakov." Yaakov is referred to in the Torah as Ish tam, yoshev ohalim – a man of wholeness and perfection who is able to sit and study Torah. The Jewish situation today is one of Yisrael; we hope and strive to become Yaakov.
SUMMARY
Three specific transgressions are called the "Yehoreg v'al ya'avor," the three sins for which it is better to die than to transgression.
Throughout history, Jews found themselves facing many difficult dilemmas of persecution. At these times, when Jews in difficult situations asked what their response should be according to Jewish Law, there were many instances where their answer was "it is preferable to give up your life rather than to live and transgress."
However, in the time of the Holocaust, the goal of the Nazi's was not simply to destroy the Jewish people spiritually. They aimed to wipe out every Jew from the face of the earth. The rabbis of the time acknowledged that it is also important to consider the nature of a threat to the Jewish people. The mitzvah of the Jew at this time was to stay alive and preserve life and the continuity of the Jewish people at all cost.
Jacob is given two names in the Torah – Yaakov and Yisrael. The name Yaakov represents the Jew who was on the run, the Jew who chooses to avoid confrontation and conflict. Today, we have the Land of Israel, a land known as Yisrael. The Jew named Yisrael acknowledges that there is a time for war as well as peace. There is a time that it is necessary to fight for our beliefs and protect our survival. Our reality dictates the need to respond as Yisrael, so that the time may come when we can live as Yaakov, the peaceful man who dwells in tents, studying Torah.