Editing Pikuach Nefesh (section)

==== The Reason Self-Sacrifice is Not Required ====
In Chassidus it is explained that the reason why the Written Torah does not command self-sacrifice is because the root of the Written Torah is in the sefirah of Chochmah, as the Zohar states, "The Torah emerges from Chochmah," and since self-sacrifice is not behavior based on reason and knowledge, it is not commanded in the Torah. However, the Rebbe explains that this is only an explanation for why there is no separate mitzvah of self-sacrifice, but the fact that there is no obligation for self-sacrifice due to the severity of each mitzvah itself requires the teaching of "and live by them." However, the root of Jewish souls is higher than the root of the Torah, as the Midrash states, "Two things preceded the world: Torah and Israel, and I do not know which preceded which; I say Israel preceded." Therefore, Jewish souls have the power to sacrifice themselves even though they are not commanded to do so.