LEV497 The biblical law [this verse] mandates that we intervene and extend help when another's life or well-being is at risk. As the Talmud teaches: "From where do we know that if one sees someone drowning in a river, or if one sees a wild beast attacking a person or bandits coming to attack him, that he is obligated to save the person? The Bible teaches, 'Do not stand idly by while your brother's blood is shed'" (Sanhedrin 73a). However, Jewish law does not oblige us to sacrifice our life for another; intervention is required only when our actions will not put our own life at risk. Thus, in the case of a drowning person, if you can't swim, or if you can but the river's current is dangerously fast, you are obligated to do all that you can (i.e., extend a pole or summon help), but not to risk your own life (see Sefer Chasidim, paragraph 674). In a case where a person is present who can swim, for example, you are obligated to offer money to try to induce them to do so (Sanhedrin 73a) (The victim--if he has the means--is required to repay the person who laid out the money to help save him (Ramah, Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 252:12). The Talmud notes that the obligation to help also applies in a case where you witness a person being attacked by a wild animal. For example, if you can distract the animal without putting yourself at serious risk, you must do so. In the case of muggers or gang members, if it is too dangerous to intervene, you must, at the very least, summon the police. While this would seem self-evident, no such requirement exists under American law.