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According to a book I'm reading (Judaism: Everything You Need to Know About: Jewish Religion) and various Jews I have talked to you can violate the 10 commandments to save a life.

Is this true?

A general rule is stated in the Talmud (Ketubot 19a):

דאמר מר אין לך דבר שעומד בפני פיקוח נפש אלא עבודת כוכבים וגלוי עריות ושפיכות דמים בלבד

for a Master said: 'There is nothing that comes before the saving of life except idolatry, incest and bloodshed only. (Soncino translation)

As some of the Ten Commandments deal with idolatry, incest, and bloodshed, they can not be violated even to save a life. The others can.

There may be certain circumstances in which the others may not be violated as well, but that would be due to external factors (e.g. desecration of God's name), not due to their status as part of the Ten Commandments.

I. There are in 10 Commandment 3 commandment that are not pushed back by pikuach nefesh (יהרג ואל יעבור):

1. Idolatry


2. Murder


3. Adulterine relationship.

Source: Bavli Sanhedrin 74a.

II. Aditionally, all commandments in specific conditions,

1. when the offence is in the presence of 10 Jewish people (בפרהסיא),


2. or in time of persecussion against obedience to mitsvot (בשעת גזרת מלכות), are not pushed out by pikuach nefesh.

Source: Bavli Sanhedrin 74a.