Issue #8 / april 2019
Photos courtesy of Yannai Segal
halachic issues
“Such fears should not inhibit anyone from donating organs after death”
foremost halachic and medical experts was formed to study both aspects of the issue. The rabbinate was careful to include a broad range of rabbinic experts and foremost poskim most of whom were unconnected to the rabbinate. They came to a unanimous conclusion. Drawing on primary sources, Rabbi Steinberg explains, “When the cessation of breathing occurs in an irreversible fashion that can be objectively verified, this is the moment of death.” Hence the advisory committee concluded that a person can become an organ donor even if his or her heart is still beating. Based on this ruling, irreversible brainstem death (which is incompatible with independent breathing) has become the accepted benchmark to determine death. Today, an organisation called the Halachic Organ Donor Society provides guidance and donor cards for those who wish to register as organ donors worldwide but are concerned that all correct measures are taken to ensure compliance with halacha. The Halachic Organ Donor Society also actively promotes the ADI card which is available here in Israel. However, the Society does not compete with ADI and so does not generally offer HOD cards
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to Israeli citizens. Over 200 Orthodox rabbis are card-carrying members and a wealth of information is available on the HOD and ADI websites. Of course inspirational stories abound concerning the recipients of organs; Yannai’s case above merely illustrates the magnitude of this mitzvah. As Yannai Segal explains, “Without that donation I would not have been able to hold, teach
and love my children the way I do now. Saying ‘yes’ to donating your organs, rather than helping a single person, helps a whole family and community.” Halachic Organ Donor Society: www.hods.org. The National Transplant Center: www.adi.gov.il