Mesiras Nefesh (Self-Sacrifice) beyond the Letter of the Law
The three cardinal aveiros (sins) that call for mesiras nefesh (giving up one’s life) rather than transgress them are avodah zarah (idol worship), shfichas damim (murder), and giluy arayos (forbidden relations). However, if it involves violating any other mitzvah, preserving one’s life takes precedence. There is a discussion among poskim whether one may choose to be stringent and have mesiras nefesh for other mitzvos as well; there are those who say that one may do so for any mitzvah they choose. According to some poskim, even if those who are forcing the Jew to commit the aveirah are doing so for their own benefit, and not l’haavir al ha-das (for a Jew to commit a sin), one may still be moser nefesh. However, all poskim agree that if one is an adam gadol (a unique individual and a chassid who conducts himself with great piety)—and is doing so in order to strengthen others in the observance of a particular mitzvah by setting an example—being moser nefesh would be permitted.
All poskim agree that a person is forbidden to be stringent and refuse to desecrate the Shabbos in a situation of pikuach nefesh (potentially life-threatening), such as a serious illness. The same halachah applies to fasting on Yom Kippur if one is told by their doctor that fasting would endanger their life. There is discussion among poskim whether a person may be moser nefesh to save another person’s life. The Tzemach Tzedek has an interesting teshuvah (responsum) regarding a man whose brothers died as result of having a bris milah (circumcision), yet he wanted to be machmir (stringent) and have a bris. (The Tzemach Tzedek does not give an actual psak in that case.) #341?1
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