Brooklyn, NY – Fasting on Yom Kippur can be difficult for even the healthiest person. But for the elderly, infirm, pregnant, or those dependent upon medication, getting through the holiest day of the Jewish year without food and water can be a nightmarish ordeal.
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Ten years ago, Yitzchok Fleischer, the founder and executive director of the Bikur Cholim D’Bobov, sought to change all that according to a report in the New York Times (http://nyti.ms/SPjGj8). Inspired by an ill friend who told Mr. Fleischer he needed intravenous feeding in order to complete the fast, Mr. Fleischer sprang into action.
With the assistance of the nearby Maimonides Medical Center, Mr. Fleischer has established “virtual clinics” in the basement of the Bobov shul and at other sites which operate throughout Yom Kippur. Twenty hospital cots are set up at the clinics to accommodate worshippers. Medical technicians supervise participants who receive nutrients via an IV drip for about a half hour each before returning to prayers. All those who receive IV nutrients must verbally affirm that both their rabbi and doctor approved the treatments.
Some 200 people took advantage of Mr. Fleischer’s service last year.
Mr. Fleischer said he consulted with three “big rabbis” who certified his program as halachically permissible. He is careful to point out that this practice is not a religious loophole. “Everyone is a difficult case. It’s not a loophole. It’s not considered eating if it goes through a vein,” he said. “You’re not supposed to take anything though the mouth or stomach. Anything. Even if you’re allowed to, nobody wants to eat. It’s very hard for a person who has always fasted to face the reality of a situation where they have to eat,” he continued. “This way they still feel they fasted and halachically, they didn’t eat. The mouth is still dry.”
Non-Jewish pediatricians are also on call during Yom Kippur and other holidays to administer aid to sick Jewish kids thanks to Mr. Fleischer’s efforts. “Life is not just eating, davening, and sleeping,” Mr. Fleischer remarked. “You’ve got to do something for other people.”
“Even if you’re allowed to, nobody wants to eat. “
So he admits that this is totally absurd both halachically and medically. It’s like a cosmetic procedure–it makes the guy feel good.
just eat if you are that sick this is a loophole that is not needed
The IV makes a wound on Yom Kippur which is forbidden.
If it is sakanos nefashos and one had the choice between eating, which is kares, and IV, which is chillul shabbos/Yom Kippur, then the IV would help avert the kares.
Otherwise, this method which makes a wound is not really a clean loophole.
Yitzchok, chazek chazek may you continue to be mezakeh klal yisroel till 120
I happened to use rabbi fleischers services at one of the participating doc offices. It’s an exceptional convenience for ppl that need to stay hydrated vs the alt option of drinking a shot glass amount of water every 9 min (or whatever the correct method is).
To no 2: the IV needle is administrated before Yom Kippur!! You can add the line at anytime durning Yom Tov.
Reb moshe writes that this is wrong. if you need to eat fasting is the wrong thing to do period. just eat he says
I am no expert, but it seems that making a fast easier defeats the purpose of a fast.
Rabbi Fleischer has been serving people with medical needs for 25 years plus unselfishly and with a smile. He is a unassuming, self effacing, and does everything lishmah. He will give you the shirt off his back, get up at 3 am, make calls for you, run interference with doctors and Maimonides, whatever, to help a fellow Jew. Chazak Va’amatz and May Hashem repay you kefel , kiflayim.
If you’re that sick or frail halacha dictated you shouldn’t fast anyway
The big issue is not whether iv fluids or preferable over oral fluids on yom kippur, but why he is using a smartphone in the picture. Maybe this photo was taken before R’ Kanievsky’s command to burn iphones.
Any heterim for a caffeine drip?
(Only kidding).
גמר חתימה טובה to all of Klal Yisroel.
If the world only had more “Yitzchok Fleisher’s” the world would be a much better place!! Chazak V’emotz Reb Itcha!! You are the Best!! Gmar Chasima Tova!!
I presume a fast is meant to be a sacrifice. It is less of a sacrifice if you are getting medical assistance. But, as I said, I am no expert. Neither do I sit as a judge on this man.
Yitzchok, chazek chazek may you continue to be mezakeh klal yisroel till 120
Times like this call for momma bear to get our of bed and slap some sense into her cubs.
Rav Chayim Brisk was very lenient with sick people who had to eat on YK. When .asked why he was so lenient, he replied that when it came to Pikuach Nefesh, he was very strict!
There is no obligation to be in shul all day.
There is no obligation to stand all day.
There is no obligation to spend the whole day in tefilla.
But there is a Biblical obligation to fast.
These people should spend their day at home in bed, rather than standing in shul and being forced to take extreme measures in order to not break their fast.