Self-sacrifice in Jewish law
Mesiras nefesh is Hebrew for self-sacrifice, meaning to do something with the utmost dedication even at the cost of losing one’s life. [1]
Requirement
Mesiras nefesh is required by Jewish law only for three out of the 365 negative commandments in Jewish law:
- idolatry
- sexual immorality
- murder of a human.
(There are 613 commandments in Jewish law of which 365 are negative commandments meaning things one should not do whilst the remaining 248 positive commandments are things that you must do.)
There is, however, one more exception and that is when it’s a time of crisis for the Jewish faith. For example if a government or any other power wants to force Jews to accept another religion. In such an instance Mesiras nefesh is required on every one of the 365 negative commandments.[2]
A crisis to the Jewish faith is also considered when a particular law within Jewish law is in crisis of being out rooted by a government or any other power.
Useage
Mesiras nefesh is usually used in a positive way, for example: One needs to do such and such with Mesiras nefesh.
In a negative way the words yehareg ve'al ya'avor are used. Meaning, in Hebrew, one should let himself be killed rather then go against a negative commandment.