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younger one. The condition of the older one is less severe than that of
his young brother and there is an institution that is prepared to take
him in. It’s obvious that he will improve there and his situation will
be better. By contrast, the younger brother’s condition is worse. If his
elder brother leaves him he will deteriorate further, and he is threat-
ening suicide. Is it correct to forego the beneficial treatment for the
older brother for the sake of the piku’ach nefesh of the younger one?

Response: Were the older brother to take the initiative and be
admitted to the institution in order to recover, and were he asking
whether to forgo his own advancement for his brother’s sake, our
response to him would probably be, “Your life comes first” and we
would allow him to enter the institution despite the harm to his
younger brother. In the present situation though, where the question
is being asked by a third, healthy brother, our advice is, “It’s better to
refrain from changing the status quo.”

To this we can append the comments of the Magen Avos (quot-
ed above), who writes, “Even when doctors have told a patient that
a certain measure is his only hope of cure, G-d has many gateways
through which to heal, which are not perceived by the doctor.” Here
too, may Hakadosh baruch Hu open His gates [of healing] and cure
them both.

ɳ Summary and conclusions

“G-d has many gateways through which to heal, which are
not perceived by the doctor.” Therefore:
1. A shoteh who is threatening suicide should not be allowed
to have relations with his sister’s daughter.
2. A brother should not make a move to benefit one of his
brothers when this will come at the expense of a second
brother.

Forbidden Relations to Prevent Suicide 2 413