Quick explanation for "Yeihareig ve'al ya'avor" which I will guess most folks reading this thread are unfamiliar with. The literal meaning of the phrase is to give up ones life and not break a prohibition. In Judaism an overriding concept is that a life that is at risk trumps everything. That means, one can violate various prohibitions such as sabbath, even yom kippur if it is to save a life. However, there are three prohibitions - adultery, idol worship, murder - which are the only ones that one should give up their life -- that is if someone says worship the idol or I will kill you, you sacrifice your life; or kill this person or I will kill you sacrifice your life.[/b]
