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283: FORBIDDEN
RELATIONS I N ORDER
TO PREVENT AN
IMBECILE’S SUICIDE

ɳ Question

A shoteh [imbecile] who is mentally unbalanced has taken a fancy to
his sister’s single daughter and has told her he will commit suicide
unless she has relations with him. The family members are pressur-
ing her to agree to his request because they are concerned that if she
refuses him he will fulfill his threat, for he has already attempted
suicide a number of times. She is asking whether halachah allows her
to immerse herself and to fulfill his request, for there are physicians
who say that if a shoteh is unable to find release for his urges there is a
risk of him committing suicide.

Dr. Yosef Kastner, Specialist in Psychi-
atry, Tel Hashomer Hospital

ɳ Response

The gemara says in maseches Sanhedrin (75a): “Rav Yehudah said in
Rav’s name, ‘It happened that a certain man set his sight on a certain
woman and became heartsick [on account of his desire to be with
her]. They came to ask the physicians, who said that his only hope
for cure lay in her having relations [with him]. The Sages said, “Let

408 1 Medical-Halachic Responsa of Rav Zilberstein