KTO ZACHRÁNIL ĽUDSKÝ ŽIVOT, ZACHRÁNIL CELÝ SVET?
Did the one who saved a human life save an entire world?

Summary/Abstract: The Holocaust had a substantial impact on the former moral criteria, as it moved the limits of the evil and the ability to make a sacrifice to save others. On the basis of various approaches to human life, this paper assesses the validity of the generally accepted Talmudic affirmation: “He who saves a life saved an entire world”, asking three questions: 1. What was the price of a human life at that time? 2. What was the reward for saving a life? 3. Who was (not) the saviour? The text is divided into two sub-chapters. Through oral history testimonies and published materials, the first sub-chapter depicts examples where survivors refer to serial killers as to saviours (including Josef Mengele). The second sub-chapter deals with opposite examples – people who tried to save the lives of their close ones, but their actions were perceived negatively for various reasons.

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