Q&A: Conflict Between Jewish Law and Morality
Conflict Between Jewish Law and Morality
Question
Following your view about the possibility of deciding conflicts between Jewish law and morality in favor of morality—for example regarding killing a non-Jew on the Sabbath, and as you explicitly noted that in such a situation you would probably save the non-Jew (since you do not have full confidence in that halakhic ruling, whereas this is directly against a moral command)—would you also, theoretically, in a halakhic situation in which you were required to give up your life because of a command to worship idols, decide not to give up your life, similar to not saving a non-Jew on the Sabbath? If not, could you explain the difference?
Answer
There is no difference. I once brought here the words of the pious Yaavetz and my critique of them. You can search for it here on the site.