1. Although we have learned that one may violate Shabbat prohibitions in many cases of an emergency related to oneself or one’s family, a person is still required to spend a large amount of money rather than violate Shabbat, if there were a choice between the two. Thus, if there were a choice between spending a large sum on a treatment for oneself or family, if they are ill, or violating Shabbat (if that could help cure the illness somehow), one would be obligated to spend the money and may not violate Shabbat.

2. On the other hand, according to R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, one is not required to spend money or become significantly inconvenienced on behalf of someone else who is ill and whose life is in danger. In such a case, Shabbat may be violated instead. For example, one may turn on a lamp or cook food on Shabbat or do anything else needed for someone who is critically ill, even if one’s neighbor has those items, but it is in the middle of the night and they would have to be woken, or they would not have any food left on Shabbat if this food was taken. In these cases, those individuals (if they are not close family) need not be inconvenienced, and Shabbat may be violated instead to obtain those necessary items (Minchat Shlomo 1:7; Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchatah 41:21).

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for everlasting peace in Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.