Pikuach nefesh

thumb|right|"For anybody who destroys a single life it is counted as if he destroyed an entire world, and for anybody who preserves a single life it is counted as if he preserved an entire world." (J. Sanhedrin 4:9:1) Pikuach nefesh (Hebrew: פיקוח נפש), which means "saving a soul" or "saving a life", is the principle in Halakha (Jewish law) that the preservation of human life overrides virtually any other religious rule of Judaism. Quotes Talmud right הַמְאַבֵּד נֶפֶשׁ אַחַת מַעֲלִין עָלָיו כְּאִילּוּ אִיבֵּד עוֹלָם מָלֵא. וְכָל־הַמְקַייֵם נֶפֶשׁ אַחַת מַעֲלִין עָלָיו כְּאִילּוּ קִייֵם עוֹלָם מָלֵא. J. Sanhedrin 4:9:1 Translation: For anybody who destroys a single life it is counted as if he destroyed an entire world, and for anybody who preserves a single life it is counted as if he preserved an entire world. The William Davidson Talmud right המאבד נפש אחת מישראל מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו איבד עולם מלא וכל המקיים נפש אחת מישראל מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו קיים עולם מלא B. Sanhedrin 37a:13 Translation: With regard to anyone who destroys one soul from the Jewish people, i.e., kills one Jew, the verse ascribes him blame as if he destroyed an entire world, as Adam was one person, from whom the population of an entire world came forth. And conversely, anyone who sustains one soul from the Jewish people, the verse ascribes him credit as if he sustained an entire world. The William Davidson Talmud right הַמְאַבֵּד נֶפֶשׁ אַחַת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, מַעֲלֶה עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב כְּאִלּוּ אִבֵּד עוֹלָם מָלֵא. וְכָל הַמְקַיֵּם נֶפֶשׁ אַחַת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, מַעֲלֶה עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב כְּאִלּוּ קִיֵּם עוֹלָם מָלֵא. Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5 Translation: With regard to anyone who destroys one soul from the Jewish people, i.e., kills one Jew, the verse ascribes him blame as if he destroyed an entire world, as Adam was one person, from whom the population of an entire world came forth. And conversely, anyone who sustains one soul from the Jewish people, the verse ascribes him credit as if he sustained an entire world. The William Davidson Talmud right מִי שֶׁנָּפְלָה עָלָיו מַפֹּלֶת, סָפֵק הוּא שָׁם סָפֵק אֵינוֹ שָׁם, סָפֵק חַי סָפֵק מֵת, סָפֵק נָכְרִי סָפֵק יִשְׂרָאֵל, מְפַקְּחִין עָלָיו אֶת הַגַּל. Mishnah Yoma 8:7 Translation: Similarly, with regard to one upon whom a rockslide fell, and there is uncertainty whether he is there under the debris or whether he is not there; and there is uncertainty whether he is still alive or whether he is dead; and there is uncertainty whether the person under the debris is a gentile or whether he is a Jew, one clears the pile from atop him. One may perform any action necessary to rescue him from beneath the debris. The William Davidson Talmud right תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מְפַקְּחִין פִּקּוּחַ נֶפֶשׁ בְּשַׁבָּת, וְהַזָּרִיז הֲרֵי זֶה מְשׁוּבָּח, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לִיטּוֹל רְשׁוּת מִבֵּית דִּין. B. Yoma 84b:7 Translation: The Sages taught in a baraita: One engages in saving a life on Shabbat, and one who is vigilant to do so is praiseworthy. And one need not take permission from a court but hurries to act on his own. The William Davidson Talmud right מְצָאוּהוּ חַי מְפַקְּחִין עָלָיו וְאִם מֵת יַנִּיחוּהוּ׃ J. Yoma 8:5:1 Translation: If a wall collapsed over somebody, it is uncertain whether he is there or not, whether he is alive or dead, whether he is a Gentile or a Jew, one digs him out. If one finds him alive, one digs him out, if dead one shall leave him. Heinrich W. Guggenheimer translation Commentary One of the most basic principles in Jewish law is that human life comes first. Almost any religious commandment can be broken in order to save the life of a human being. Rabbi Asher Lopatin: "Pikuach Nefesh: The Jewish Value of Saving a Life". My Jewish Learning (2019). 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. "Pikuach Nefesh". Jewish Virtual Library (2017). Miscellaneous We did everything to save lives, despite Shabbat. People asked, "Why are you here? There are no Jews here," but we are here because the Torah orders us to save lives ... We are desecrating Shabbat with pride.  Mati Goldstein, commander of the Jewish ZAKA rescue mission to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, as cited in "ZAKA mission to Haiti 'proudly desecrating Shabbat'" (archived) by Amit Levy. Ynetnews (2010-01-17). External links