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is correct for the Jewish physician to dissuade the non-Jewish woman
from having an abortion.

[This may be why Mordechai told King Achashverosh about
Bigsan and Seresh’s plot to harm him – because it is proper that if
a Jew sees non-Jews who are about to sin he should prevent them
from doing so, in order to bring Hashem yisbarach satisfaction, so
that ‘Hashem will rejoice in His works.’]

And perhaps there is no contradiction at all between Rashi in San-
hedrin and the Sefer Chassidim, because it’s possible that the mitzvah
to rebuke is fundamentally an interpersonal obligation, whereby we
are told to concern ourselves with our fellow Jews’ good, whether it
be their material welfare [such as returning lost property] or their
spiritual welfare [by preventing them from sinning], as the passuk
says, “…rebuke your comrade and do not bear guilt on his account.”
This mitzvah is addressed to Yisrael and in regard to this Rashi writes
that we are commanded to concern ourselves with our comrades but
not with non-Jews. The comments of the Sefer Chassidim however
refer to our obligation towards Heaven, namely that we must remove
anger from our Father in Heaven. In regard to this mitzvah there is
no difference between removing His anger on account of sins done
by Jews or those done by non-Jews, for in both cases we must ensure
that ‘Hashem will rejoice in His works.’ It is also possible that the
comments of the Sefer Chassidim represent a measure of piety, rather
than being an actual obligation.



Reuven was Shot in the Head by Shimon;

Levi was Injured by a Stray Bullet from his own
Weapon – Whose Rescue takes Priority?

Question: We are confronted with two badly hurt people. One of
them is Reuven, who has been shot in the head by Shimon. The other
seriously wounded patient is Levi, who was injured by a stray bullet

464 1 Medical-Halachic Responsa of Rav Zilberstein