May or must a Jew give up their life rather than eat non-Kosher food at gunpoint?

Answer

[a] The Talmud (Sanhedrin 74a) says that for 610 of the 613 mitzvot (commandments), a Jew should violate the commandment and the Torah rather than die.  This is based on the verse “…and you shall live by (performing) them” (Leviticus 8:5), to which the Rabbis of the Talmud (Yoma 85b) add “and not die by observing them (the mitzvot).”

[b] The Talmud (Sanhedrin 74a) goes on to say that there are three exceptions in which a Jew must give up his or her life rather than commit the sin.  These sins are (1) murder, (2) sexual impropriety, and (3) idol worship.  Therefore, the answer to our question seems quite straightforward: one must eat the non-Kosher food, rather than give up one’s life.  However, there is an exception.  When the entire society is filled with widespread and systematic anti-Semitisim, a Jew may not violate even the simplest act or “minor” commandment – even at the penalty of death – since this act betrays the Jewish people and desecrates God’s name.

May a Jew give up their life rather than eat non-kosher food is much more complicated.  Although it seems that, based on the Talmud, a person does not have permission to decide what to do in such a case, there exist three different opinions among Jewish authorities.

[a] Maimonides (Hlichot Yesodai Torah 5:1) rules that it is always forbidden to give up one’s life in such a circumstance.  One who allows him/herself to be killed rather than eat the non-Kosher food is considered to be the same s a person who committed suicide, which is a sin in Judaism.

[b] Rabbi David ben Zimrah (Egypt, 1479-1573) disagrees and says, “If a person is willing to give up his or her life for Jewish principles, s/he is considered a tzaddik – a righteous person. That person is to be praised.”

[c] Rabbi Yehuda Rozanes (Turkey, 1658-1727), in his book Parshat Derachim, offers a compromise position.  He says that only an established Jewish leader may martyr him/herself when not mandated.  However, a lay person or any other Jew is forbidden to accept death rather than violate any of the other 610 mitzvot.

Joel Grishaver, “You Be the Judge 2”, pg. 6

Used with permission from Joel Grishaver