Brooklyn, NY – Just days before Yom Kippur, noted author and halachic expert Harav Gavriel Zinner has finally put into play a project he has wanted to do for several years: setting up a panel of chareidi doctors with whom he will offer medical and halachic guidance for those who may need to eat on Yom Kippur for medical reasons.
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According to Hamodia, Rav Zinner has arranged for three doctors, who are well versed both in medicine and halacha, to join him at his Shul at Netei Gavriel Shul in Borough Park, to answer shailos regarding fasting on Yom Kippur, which can often be a complex issue. Rav Zinner will be available tonight, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 to 10 PM at his Shul, which is located at 1541 40th Street.
Rav Zinner will be joined tonight by Dr. Menachem Friedman, on Wednesday night by Dr. Martin Moskowitz and on Thursday by Dr. Max Bulmash. The entire project has been undertaken as a zechus for a speedy yeshua for R’ Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin.
I’m really concerned that a rav would presume to offer advice on the pros and cons of fasting to individuals without the involvement of their personal physicians. While its certainly better to be doing so with a least one medical professional participating, it seems that anyone who has to make such an inquiry should do so with their own specialist who knows the specifics of their condition/illness/ etc. and rely on that advice. One should not be taking advice from a doctor who may not even be trained in the relevant specialty, much less know the details for your condition. Such advice may be ok if you are asking about taking an aspirin for a headache during yom kippur, but for anything more serious, call your personal physician and NOT a rav or doctor who doesn’t know your case.
Is there any way to call, fax, or email a question? I can’t physically travel to Boro park and I have a serious question to ask…
Reply to number 2:
There is a cell number at the bottom of the poster.
How about doing something as a zechus for Gilad Schalit, for a change? He’s in a much worse situation than Sholom Rubashkin.
The entire project has been undertaken as a zechus for a speedy yeshua for R’ Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin.
maybe a better way would be to take up a collection and offer restitutions to all the people who he cheated including none Jews
that really would help
WOW! This whole project for the “yeshuah” of Rubashkin…
Exactly what is the yeshuah they are looking for? for him to be released now?
If this whole enterprise on the days before yom kippur is being promoted as being for the z’chus of a convicted felon, I’d be very careful about taking any medical or halachic advice from the organizers. I’ve heard of Rav Zinner and assume he is a respected posek but this whole gig seems to be a bad idea for the reasons noted above (regarding taking advice from someone who is not your own physician) as well as putting your health in the hands of someone seeking a “speedy yeshua” for SMR>
Why can’t you just ask your own doctor and your own rabbi? Why drag in a convicted felon?
For those that dont know rav zinner. he is a well known author of the neita gavrial series. he is one of the most logical rabbis that youvde got out there. if he feels a question is to individualized to answer, hes the first to tell you. i presume that is the reason that he is having doctors with him. to assure that any medical advise is sound. btw dr bulmash is a well known pediatrician
Rav Zinner is a very smart and responsible Rabbi. I assume they will be discussing issue which may be of interest to the general public, not people’s individual health problems. Why is it that people here will always manage a negative comment in every situation.
“Yeshua” of Rubashkin?! He’s a convicted felon who has admitted to forging documents and books of account. Yes, his sentence is draconian, but please do not make this admitted avaryan into a tsaddik.
This is certainly a positive thing on the one hand. However, on the other hand, it show that many people do not have a Rav, or at least, a Rav whom they trust with Psak.
I’ve spent many years involved in the study of medical halacha. Usually, direct communication between professionals — doctor and rabbi — helps clarify situations.
My suggestion is that one communicate, as soon as possible, with one’s own physician(s), and arrange expeditiously for one’s posek to speak with one’s own physician.
For those who choose not to communicate with their posek (which is a big mistake), listening to one’s doctor if the doctor for any real reason does not want you to fast is wise, and not doing so but instead fasting on your own is dangerous at best.
There are serious potential risks to medical decisions being made and advice being given by physicians who have never examined a patient, reviewed the medical records in full, etc. Furthermore, no matter how well intentioned they might be, doctors who would do so might even open themselves to professional misconduct charges.
BS”D
That is Dr. GEORGE Moskowitz (MD),
who is an excellent diagnostician, not Martin who is an excellent Optician – eye doctor.
Gmar Tov Shalom al Yisroel