Reply To: Texting on Shabbos could be worse than murder

Yitayningwut: Re your first point: According to Rashi in Sanhedrin 74 it’s only one of the 3 aveiros for which you give up your life not because of it’s severity but because the cheshbon of the Heter of Pikuach Nefesh breaks down (please see my previous post). I would also say that’s one of the 7 mitzvos because it is fundamental to societal harmony. This does not prove it is more chamur than Chilul Shabos.

Re your 2nd point – if it’s the truth, then in the right context (i.e. not necessarily in a Kiruv class) it should be stated, people’s feelings not withstanding. We have to align our feelings and emotions to those of the Torah. There are people who feel passionately and make convincing arguments both intellectual and emotional in support of many wrong stances like euthanasia, alternative relationships etc. We do not flinch and are unimpressed. Our priorities, outlook, emotional responses must be guided by our 3000+ year old heritage.