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his life. We must not desecrate Heaven’s Name even when
there is a risk that taking this course will lead to loss of life.

My father-in-law’s advice is therefore that we steel our-
selves and make every possible effort to prevent her aborting
her fetus. She should be given financial assistance and good
conditions to provide her with support and extricate her
from her downward fall, so that she keeps her fetus and
doesn’t spill its blood.

I shall further explain my father-in-law’s comments: In Teshuvos
Melemed Leho’il (1, 61) the case is mentioned of a woman who asked
her son to study in a gymnasium in Germany. Since the law of the
land required that classes be held on Shabbos as well and stipulated
that any student who refused to participate in studies would be ex-
pelled, the woman was very keen that her son should attend school on
Shabbos. The son, however, refused to desecrate Shabbos by writing
and performing other forbidden melachos that were done there. His
mother was insistent, even threatening suicide if her son wouldn’t
study there on Shabbos. The ruling there is that the son may not
attend school on Shabbos, despite his mother’s suicide threat.

Some support for this ruling can be derived from the Rema’s
comments (Yoreh De’ah 334:1): “A ban should be placed upon all who
deserve it, even though there are grounds for concern that he may
leave observance [as a result], this need not be considered.” Similarly,
we ought not to give in to a suicide threat.

However, my father-in-law’s remarks still need to be better under-
stood. The Chasam Sofer (Yoreh De’ah, 322) says, in reference to the
Rema’s ruling:“However it is questionable if, when he rejects his faith,
he is going to take his young children along with him, whether we
should be concerned about these youngsters who have not sinned?”
The Chasam Sofer’s response to this is: “It is virtually certain that
anyone who harbors heretical ideas will teach his children to follow
him and his children will then be among those of whom it is written
‘None who come there [i.e. who are caught up in idolatry or heresy]
shall return’ (Mishlei 2:19). In such cases one need not be concerned

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