Here’s another ethical issue and Jewish source response:

Case

In Dante’s Peak (whether you saw it or not) there is a great ethical dilemma.  Grandma lives up on the mountain. She is warned about the volcano erupting and refuses to come down.  The adults, knowing the danger, are really frustrated but know that it is too late to go get her. The kids cry and complain, but the adults explain the situation. Then, while the adults are busy doing other necessary things, the twelve-year-old boy and the ten-year-old girl steal Mom’s truck and head up the mountain toward the erupting volcano to save Grandma.

Answer

Dante’s Peak suggests the question, “Can two kids try to outrun the lava in order to rescue their grandmother?

[a] Jewish law draws a distinction between safek sakaneh (possible danger) and vadai sakaneh (certain danger).  Maimonides teaches: “One may risk safek sakaneh in order to save another person, but not vadai sakaneh (Kesef Mishneh).

[b] This idea is rooted in Leviticus 18:5: “You shall keep My laws and My rules, you shall act on them, You shall live by them.”  The idea is that no mitzvah is worth dying for (except the three: not murdering, not sexually assaulting and not committing public adultery).

[c] The problem in the film is that the kids believe that the rescue is possible, the mother and the other adults that it is impossible, Normally the adults would win because of the commandment of Honor your Father and Mother.  However, Rashi on Leviticus 19:2 makes it clear that you need not obey your parents when they ask you to violate the Torah. (Not saving a life when possible would be a Torah violation.) So it all boils down to how sure the kids are that the life is savable.

Joel Grishaver, “You Be the Judge”, pgs. 51-52

Used with permission from Joel Grishaver