596. An Avalanche

Shabbos 2:19

If they are clearing an avalanche and, upon reaching the victim’s nose, they discover that he is no longer breathing, he should be left there until after Shabbos because we do not violate Shabbos for one who has already died. Even if those on the top level of an avalanche have died, we do not assume that those on the lower levels have necessarily died. The debris should still be removed because it is possible that those on the top level will die but those on the lower levels will survive.

Shabbos 2:20

If an avalanche fell on a courtyard that housed both Jewish and non-Jewish residents, even if there were 1,000 non-Jews and only one Jew, we remove all the debris because of the Jew. [Note: the reason we are permitted to violate Shabbos to save a life is “let one Shabbos be violated in order that many others may be kept.” This rationale only applies to Jews.] If one of the residents left for another courtyard and that courtyard suffered the accident, we clear the debris because the one who left may have been Jewish.