Color me saddened by the Jewish reation to commit suicide rather than to be taken prisoner. I really thought it was against their religion. Was there mass suicides during the holocaust?
Fortunately we don't face these decisions often. Suicide would probably be a legitimate option when confronted with the certainty of idolitry, forbidden sexual relations, or the commission of murder. In the Masada case, I'd guess the first two would be certainties, in the case of the Holocaust, none.