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Pesachim (25b) that Torah prohibitions are set aside in situations of
danger to life because of “the preciousness of a Jew’s life.” If so, when
it is clear to us that the father or the mother will commit suicide why
should we not desecrate Shabbos in order to save their lives? Consid-
er: if the mother would throw herself into the ocean it seems certain
that we would desecrate Shabbos in order to save her4. If so, why
shouldn’t we do so already? Do we have to wait until she takes action
and only then save her? Why shouldn’t we save her now, before she
harms herself? There seem to be two possible ways of explaining the
rationale behind their rulings, [in the light of both of which we shall
consider our present question,] as follows:

The first approach: In Kesuvos (67b) the gemara says, “A person
who has assets but who only wants to be supported by charity, is given
it as a gift but it is later reclaimed from his assets after his death – this
is the opinion of Rabbi Meir.” [The Ran there writes: “‘He is given it
as a gift’ so that he shouldn’t endanger himself on account of his mi-
serliness.‘And they later reclaim it from his assets after his death’ but
not during his lifetime otherwise he will be unwilling to borrow again
and he will afflict himself with hunger.”] The Sages however say: If he
has assets but doesn’t want to support himself we pay no attention
to him.” [The Ran writes: “and if he dies, he dies!”] The Rambam
(Hilchos Matnos Aniyim 7:9) rules according to the Sages. We thus
see that our obligation to assist our fellow Jews with charity extends
only to those who cannot help themselves. There is no obligation to
help someone who has the means to support himself but who refuses
to do so. Even if he is on the verge of dying this is not considered a
matter of piku’ach nefesh and is not subject to the command,“Do not
stand idly by the [spilled] blood of your fellowman” (Vayikra 19:16).

This rationale can be applied to the situation under discussion too:
if a man or a woman intend putting an end to their lives, so long as
it is within their power to help themselves continue living there is

4. As explained earlier, in siman 274, that it is permitted to desecrate Shabbos in
order save a person who has attempted suicide. See also later on in this siman s.v.
‘we learn from these comments.’

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