[Avodah] pikuach nefesh

[Eli Turkel]

First of all the Tzitz Eliezer says that one can't throw the switch.
The trolley case is worse because a person is tied to the tracks. In
diverting a grenade it is
a little more indirect.

R Zilbestein from a shiur from last July poses several questions (and
answers)

1.  Paratroopers whose cords got entangled. The officer can save himself by
tearing the cord of
the other paratrooper that accidentally caused the entaglement

2. A pilot who is mistakenly firing on friendly troops. Can one shoot down
the plane

3. An electrician mistakenly touches a live wire. The only way to save
himself is to shut down
the electricity of the neighborhood. However, there is someone on life
support who will die if the
electricity is turned off (assuming no standby electricity)

4. Terrorists using innocent people as protection. Can one shoot the
terrorists knowing it may
also kill innocent civilians

5. Could one  (halachically)

bomb the extermination camp in Aushwitz knowing that it would kill
many of the inmates.

Eli Turkel

On Fri, Jun 3, 2011 at 5:15 AM, Poppers, Michael
<MPoppers at kayescholer.com>wrote:

> In Avodah V28n87, RET noted:
> > CI has a question: Can one divert a grenade to save many people but it
> will fall on a few. CI remains with a safek. R. Zilberstein in many shiurim
> seems to tend towards allowing it (it has many practical applications). I
> believe the Tzitz Eliezer does not allow based on the CI' safek <
> Isn't that question the "trolley problem"* (for which I was told some years
> ago the Halachic answer is "no, don't throw the switch")?
> ---
> *) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley_problem
>
> All the best from
> -- Michael Poppers via BB pager




-- 
Eli Turkel
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