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R' Aaron Cohen — She'eilos U'Teshuvos Mi'maamakim

R' Aaron Cohen — She'eilos U'Teshuvos Mi'maamakim

R' Aaron Cohen — She'eilos U'Teshuvos Mi'maamakim

The 6th of Cheshvan, 5702 (October 27, 1941), was but two days prior to the liquidation of the Kovno ghetto. One of the respected members of the community approached Rav Oshry with a heart-rending shaila. He was certain that he and the member of his family would be killed, and the Nazis would likely make him watch as they murdered his family. He would certainly suffer a painful death as well. Would it be permitted for him to take his own life to avoid this physical and emotional suffering?

On the 12th of Tishrei, 5702 (October 3, 1941), a rumor spread that the Nazis were planning to round up and murder widowed women, whose husbands had already been killed by the Germans. These women sought to marry quickly in order to avoid this threat. However, there was no Mikveh in the Kovno ghetto, and the question arose as to whether being Mesader Kiddushin for these couples would be considered Lifnei Iver, placing a stumbling block that would result in transgression. The Devar Avraham, the Rav of Kovno, asked Rav Oshry to look into this pressing question, and Rav Oshry provided a wide-ranging analysis of many facets of the prohibition of Lifnei Iver.