LEV490 “Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:16). “Our Rabbis taught: how do we know that one who sees that someone [literally, “his friend,” haveiro] is drowning in the river or that a wild animal is dragging him or that highway robbers are attacking him is obliged to save him? Because the Torah says, “Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor.”—But is it derived from that verse? Is it not rather derived from “And you shall restore him to himself” Deuteronomy 22:2)?--From that verse I might think that it is only a personal obligation, but that he is not bound to take the trouble of hiring men [if he himself cannot save the victim]; therefore, the verse [Leviticus 19:16] teaches that he must [also spend his money to hire others, if necessary].-- Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 73a. Furthermore, the duty to strive to heal takes precedence over all but three of the other commandments: “With regard to all transgressions in the Torah except for idolatry, sexual licentiousness, and murder, if enemies say to a person, “Transgress and then you will not be killed,” the person must transgress and not be killed. What is the reason? “And you shall live by them [My commandments]” (Leviticus 18:16) [implies] that he should not die by them [Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 74a).