Q&A: Permitted?
Permitted?
Question
Is it permitted to work as a personal bodyguard?
That is, on a day of danger, suppose the bodyguard identifies a shot being fired at the Minister of Defense whom he is protecting—would he be obligated to jump and take the bullet and die instead of the minister? Is that permitted according to Jewish law?
Answer
It is permitted, just as one may put oneself at risk in war in order to protect the public. A public official has a public standing (unfortunately), and harming him is a significant harm to the public as a whole. Therefore, the public may decide to protect him even at the cost of other lives.
Discussion on Answer
I wrote here in the past that in my opinion he committed a transgression on the halakhic level. Of course he is worthy of admiration for the sacrifice, but it is against Jewish law. Many people got angry at me, of course.
Thank you. What about Major Roi Klein, of blessed memory, who jumped on a grenade and thereby saved others but caused his own death? (I’m asking seriously and from a rational standpoint, to know what the ruling is according to Jewish law.)