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Piku’aĥ nefesh supersedes all mitzvot except for three extremely serious transgressions. Violating them inflicts critical damage to the divine image and the fabric of life, so the tradition demands “yehareg ve’al ya’avor” (one should allow oneself to be killed rather than transgress them). People faced with the choice – “Either kill this person or we will kill you” –should choose to be killed rather than to kill. This is the case not only for murder, but for idol worship and certain sexual wrongdoings as well. Of course, one should do one's best to avoid such awful situations, but if they are unavoidable, one must allow oneself to be killed rather than transgress. Keeping these three mitzvot is a way to preserve the divine image. Through its dedication to these three mitzvot, the Jewish nation has succeeded in bonding to eternal values and surviving all its exiles. It continues to create, and to add blessing and life to the world.
