Pikuah Nefesh

Asked by Joseph · October 30, 2002 · Other

Question

1. Since we hold that almost all non-religious Jews are tinok she-nishba, why don't the laws of pikuah nefesh apply to them equally. 2. Could you confirm with your father about the question concerning a convert who can't have a milah, if he can still convert. I ask because I know that many gedolim, including the Seridei Esh, R. Kook, and R. Weinberg decided in the negative.

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

1) no such Halachah! Actually it is ridiculous. You are taking away the people's responsibility for their actions. Tinok Shenishbah applies even less in our generation, because of the Television and internet. People who know that they are Jewish and know that there is a rule book (the Torah) that they are expected to follow are not Tinok Shenishbah. 2) Gladly.... AA