Q&A: Army Notification of Death on the Sabbath
Army Notification of Death on the Sabbath
Question
Have a good week, Rabbi,
Is it permissible to violate the Sabbath as part of a military role in order to notify a family of the death of one of its sons?
Best regards,
Answer
In principle, it does not seem so to me. The problem is that it could reach them in some other way, and therefore perhaps there is still room to permit it.
Discussion on Answer
And another question: if I, as a soldier, receive an order to notify a family that one of its sons was killed, and in order to carry out the order I would have to violate the Sabbath, should I refuse such an order?
Because it could lead to danger. That is what I heard from people who know about these matters.
If you are convinced that this is a mistake, then yes. But you need to check and think it through very, very carefully.
Even if it reaches them some other way, how does that create room to permit it? Is there an issue of danger to life here?