Jerusalem – Although the Health Ministry has launched a major campaign to get the public to register as potential organ donors with the ADI organization, Deputy Health Minister Ya’acov Litzman — who runs the ministry — declined to tell The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday whether he himself is registered with ADI.
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Nevertheless, ministry director-general Dr. Ronni Gamzu — who has long been on the ADI list and serves as a personal example — went to the Ramat Gan diamond center branch of the Aroma coffee shops to launch the ministry’s campaign to sign up potential donors at all the chain’s branches. Armo CEO Asher Lev signed an ADI card at the event.
Gamzu congratulated him to encouraging potential donor registration and sat with customers to explain the importance. The screens of the computerized cash registers show the image of an ADI card and encourage customers to sign as they paid for their meals.
Although many haredim in the US recognize brain death — when the lower brain stops functioning even if the person still breathes — as the time when organs can be removed for transplant, most haredim do not. Most organs cannot be used for transplantation if the heart has already ceased beating. Opponents of the taking of organs at brain-death include the Gur hassidim and United Torah Judaism, of which MK Litzman is a member.
“Although many haredim in the US recognize brain death—when the lower brain stops functioning even if the person still breathes—as the time when organs can be removed for transplant,”
who are these so-called chareidim? or are you confusing with reformers?
“Although many haredim in the US recognize brain death—when the lower brain stops functioning even if the person still breathes—as the time when organs can be removed for transplant”
that’s a flat-put lie!
only some of the modern orthodox think that way, but definitelly no haredim.
And for those who will not sign organ donor cards, hope you will at least consider living kidney donation!
There is an article in the current issue of the Jewish Action Magazine, published by the OU. The article is called “Kidney Donation in Jewish Law – A Testimony to the Progress of Science and Medical Halachah” – very interesting article. There are 2 other articles in the same issue of the magazine that may be of interest to some.. One article, titled “Kidney Doctor As Kidney Donor” and the other is “Meet the Kidney Matchmaker.” All articles are online if you do a Google search, you will find them.
It appears to me that charedim are shoving and pushing to be first in line when it comes to accepting organ transplants – which would probably have been harvested from brain-dead donors.
That being the case, why can they not do the same thing in reverse, i.e. to be first in line to sign donor cards?
If those charedim do not then they are clearly guilty of duplicity and even hypocrisy.
Rabbi Avraham Ravitz, tz”l, Member of Knesset had signed an organ donor card. So did Rabbi Meshi Zahav of Zaka. If you go to the HODS website (Halachic Organ Donation Society) you will see Rabbi’s who have signed organ donor cards.
I was told about 100 people die in Israel each year, waiting for a kidney.
Many people are also fleeing out of Israel to get a kidney, many coming to the USA and other countries.
Something needs to be done about the critical issue of the organ shortage in Israel!!!
To those who think that signing the ADI Card is only for “Reformers” and “Modern Orthodox,” it is endorsed by both Rav Ovadia Yosef and Rav Zalman Nechemiah Goldberg, with the stipulation that one names a Rav who will be the final determinant as to whether death as occurred. The card provides a special line for this.
It is therefore a Chilul Hashem and a disgrace that the minister has not signed the card, given that nothing could be done without permission from whatever Rav he wants to name.
Litzman might not be able to donate a kidney or part of his liver because of underlying medical issues. We should not speculate. Litzman is a true Torah Jew who is an example for others who serve in the Kenesset.
One of the greatest gadolim alive today, Rav Tendler, shlita, is also a world expert bioethicist, has said that organ donation upon brain death is not only mutar but one of the greatest mitzvot one can do in life or at the end of life. I cannot imagine there are many frum yidden who would contradict his views. Those who do, should either be denied any organ donation or at least be at the very end of the line. Anything less would be a big chilul hashem.
To those who think that signing the ADI Card is only for “Reformers” and “Modern Orthodox,” it is endorsed by both Rav Ovadia Yosef and Rav Zalman Nechemiah Goldberg, with the stipulation that one names a Rav who will be the final determinant as to whether death as occurred. The card provides a special line for this
That strikes me as a complete fake out. The vast majority of Rabbonim would not allow donation, because they hold that death acc. to halakha occurs later than when it is defined by most of the medical establishment. At that later point, almost all the organs are useless (except maybe the corneas).
It’s like signing a card that says, “I promise to eat pork, but only if my Rabbi permits it first.” And what do you think the Rabbi is going to say?