General Category > Ask Posters Show Threads
Ask MUMAN613! almost live!
angryChineseKahanist:
speaking of on-call doctors....
if a heart surgeon is an observant jew, does he get out in the middle of sukkot or sabbath?
muman613:
--- Quote from: angryChineseKahanist on September 26, 2010, 09:44:32 PM ---speaking of on-call doctors....
if a heart surgeon is an observant jew, does he get out in the middle of sukkot or sabbath?
--- End quote ---
Well, I guess you are talking about situations which involve saving someones life...
Yes, in all cases saving a persons life over-rides any obligation to do mitzvahs, even including violating Shabbat and Yom Tov {Holidays}.
It is called Pikuei Nefesh and it is a halachic law the says that because Torah commands us to LIVE by the mitzvot, they should never come to cause a Jew/Human to die {through trying to observe the mitzvot}.
Let me find a good reference to this topic:
--- Quote ---http://www.mechon-mamre.org/jewfaq/death.htm
Of the 613 commandments, only the prohibitions against murder, idolatry, incest and adultery are so important that they cannot be violated to save a life. Judaism not only permits, but often requires a person to violate the commandments if necessary to save a life. A person who is extremely ill, for example, or a woman in labor, is not permitted to fast on Yom Kippur, because fasting at such a time would endanger the person's life. Doctors are permitted to answer emergency calls on the Sabbath, even though this may violate many Sabbath prohibitions. Abortions where necessary to save the life of a mother are mandatory (the unborn are not considered human life in Jewish law, thus the mother's human life overrides).
--- End quote ---
--- Quote ---http://www.aish.com/jl/i/mn/48932567.html
Physicians' Decisions
With the exception of the three cardinal sins, one must violate any religious law to save a life, as the Torah states, "Keep My decrees and laws, since a person can [truly] live only by keeping them" (Leviticus 18:5) -- live by keeping them and not die by keeping them.
Although keeping the Sabbath is considered a foundation of our religion, it may be violated in any manner necessary to save a life. In such a case, it is a meritorious deed to violate the Sabbath, and one who hesitates is guilty of bloodshed.
Where the Sabbath is violated in a case of danger, it must be done by responsible adults, and not by children or non-Jews, even where possible. However, if it is possible to avoid violating the Sabbath without causing any delay, it is permissible to do so.
Similarly, a dangerously sick or starving person may eat any forbidden food necessary to preserve his life. In such a case, all is permitted, even pork products, and bread on Passover.
Although Yom Kippur is our most sacred Day of Atonement, one whose life may be endangered by fasting is forbidden to do so. In such a case, one obtains atonement even without fasting.
In all cases of sickness or injury, we rely upon the opinion of a physician. As soon as he says that there is even a question of danger, religious law may be violated to preserve life, even if it is not certain that a given cure will help.
In any case where there is disagreement between medical authorities, one should make the same decision that one would make if no religious prohibition were involved, since where any question of danger is concerned, all religious laws must be [largely] ignored.
If the patient himself feels that his life is in danger, his word must be taken against any number of physicians. Regarding such a case, it is written, "The heart knows its own bitterness" (Proverbs 14:10).
--- End quote ---
Rubystars:
One of the things that filled me with a lot of anger was when a while back I saw people questioning whether or not they should save a drowning non-Jew on Shabbat. Is this kind of haughty attitude common or was it just an abberation? I can't imagine someone watching another human being drowning and not doing something to help.
angryChineseKahanist:
are supermarkets open on jewish holy days?
angryChineseKahanist:
I've asked about elevators in the past...
where does it say that jews are not allowed to use electricity on saturdays? or what does it say? or probably better what's equvalent to electricy since it wasn't available back then?
I'll just throw that at you and hope that you'll know what i'm saying.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version