Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Photo from privateinvestigations.blogspot.com
There is an article that has been making it’s way around the web that discusses a new book on the laws of blood donation written by an orthodox rabbi affiliated with Lev Malka, a Jewish blood donation organization. The book, B’Damayich Chayee, is the first-ever book on blood donation in halacha (Jewish law). The book was compiled by Rabbi Avraham Yaakov Goldmintz, and arranged as a series of questions and answers.
Apparently, the book says that orthodox Jewish men should not receive blood donations from women, non-orthodox Jews, or non-Jews, except in a dire emergency.
The first thing that came to my mind when I read this article was the quote from Shylock in William Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice,“If you prick us, do we not bleed?” The second thing that came to mind was an episode of Archie Bunker, called Archie’s Operation, where he doubts the medical safety of receiving a blood donation from a black female doctor:
Fast forward from 21:23 to the end. Brilliant!
It should be noted that Lev Malka denies any association with the sentiments attributed to their organization or Rabbi Goldmintz’s book. In a statement made to Patheos.com writer, Hemant Mehta, a Lev Malka spokesperson said,
“In the name of Lev Malka, this is a total fabrication, and misrepresentation of the facts mainly due to erroneous translation of the Hebrew source. Note that there are no references cited for the so-called Rabbi’s ban on donating or receiving blood from the opposite gender.
Quite the contrary, our organization is the largest independent blood donor of Magen David Adom [Israel's emergency blood bank service], to which we have donated over 21,000 pints of blood. We conduct blood drives in Yeshivahs, girls’ schools, banks, medical clinics, and many other public places. We do these for men and women simultaneously, with the proper separation, as per the Halacha requirements. We collect on average 600-700 portions of blood at each such event.
We never ask the recipients of the blood their gender or affiliation. We have no interest in creating our own blood bank as the article insinuates.
Do you think the recipient of blood or a heart, kidney, or other transplant has to check where it came from? This is basic [Pikuach Nefesh, and] there are no discussions about this by any reputable Rabbi.”
There could definitely be some room for mistranslation between the Hebrew and English language. There could also be room for misinterpretation because of the well publicized separate sex blood donation drives led by Lev Malka. They hold the separate sex blood drives for reasons of tznius (modesty) so that ultra orthodox men and women can feel more comfortable when they are donating blood (not indicating that men and women couldn’t receive each other’s blood).
Since I don’t have a copy of the book, I can’t say if the allegations about the content are true. What I do know is that the growing extremism in the orthodox community can lead people to believe that the assertions above are valid. If anyone has a copy of the book or more information, feel free to enlighten me further in the comment section.
This is the Google translation of the original Hebrew article on Rabbi Goldmintzin’s book (warning – the translation doesn’t make much sense):
Religious person who needs blood donation should not receive a donation from not keep kosher. The reason: the blood of the eating Trip “spook.” Thus, the number of new law on blood donations
Moshe Heller
Last Updated: 12:04:13, 07:19
New religious book deals with sets of blood donations: the blood of predation, carrion eaters “and stupefying nature begets bad for getting blood.” According to the book may receive blood from a donor just such an emergency. Book also claimed that a man can not take blood woman and vice versa.
Tell the new laws, ‘your blood life, “reads the organization initiated by Lev Malka – engaged in introducing the subject haredi blood donations. The book discusses various dilemmas facing donors and explains how to drive.
One of the main discussions in the book deals with the identity of those who donate blood observant person. According to the authors, “there is not piety to scavengers contribution Horrors stupefy and give rise to bad nature in getting the blood, and only in times of danger it can be done without any fear.”
The book also deals with the separation of blood donations between women and men. Book presents teaching of Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, leaders of the Ashkenazi, who says’ Unable to raise money from people and women in the same room, but need to separate rooms or at other times. “
Also rabbis forbid a man and a woman to take blood from each other. Although at the time of saving lives it is permitted, but even the condition is that it be done by a married person and not by single.
Interesting things I can be the case that a person has a rare blood type and refuses to contribute. In one case encountered by volunteers, allowed Rabbi Scheinberg force with a rare blood type to donate it to a life-threatening condition, but it Sltorm declassified permit no medical reasons that prevent him to donate blood. It also said that because of the ban on old beat his father correctly if that son “takes blood from his father,” Rabbi Shmuel banned Vosner the year to get blood donation from his father, fearing to pass the ban.
More interesting things related to fundraising. Despite the importance of blood donation, the law stipulates that to make it in the synagogue, even so shall refrain from learning Torah because learners will be able to donate blood instead. Only in the event of no alternative to the rabbis permitted the women’s fundraising or entrance to the synagogue.
Recently had subsequently hold a fundraising event in salvation within the Bank, Tour became the focus of fundraising, since all public buildings in the neighborhood are used for study and prayer.
In addition, there are laws to back up the procedures to which we are accustomed to blood donation. For example, the fact that perform blood donation relies on lying to law forbids it standing up. Another prohibition is to donate blood if the donor made an effort, for example, after a long walk.
Finally, a person who has any of these conditions and contributed to, has a duty to wash the hands after the contribution as they do when waking from sleep. According to Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv late, who does not take his hands, “afraid of seven days.”
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
