According to Leviticus 7:26-27 Jews shouldn't consume blood. So why can Jews accept blood transfusions in non-life threatening situations? Is the act of inserting blood via arm not considered "consuming."
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4related: judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/16145/…– MenachemCommented Sep 17, 2014 at 5:02
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Nonkosher food is only forbidden to eat k'darko, in its customary manner. you can eat totally spoiled nonkosher foods, IV lines are not usually a problem and feel free to stick some bacon up your nose.– LN6595Commented Apr 12, 2019 at 17:56
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2 Answers
Human blood is not included in the prohibition (Shulchan Arukh YD 66:10). There is a concern when consuming any permitted blood that no one think you are consuming forbidden blood. A classic solution to this is including fish scales in a cup of fish blood (ibid. :9). It seems to me that a transfusion bag serves this purpose sufficiently. Even were one to argue on this point the prohibition would remain at a rabbinic one and not a biblical one, and hence can be lifted for any seriously ill individual even if their life is not threatened.
Additionally, one is only prohibited from consuming forbidden food through the throat (Rambam MA 14:3).
answered Sep 17, 2014 at 3:44
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if my translation is correct: "Do not eat any blood, whether from a mammal or a bird, no matter where you may live." Humans are mammals. no?– kirbyCommented Sep 17, 2014 at 3:45
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6@kirby As with all translations it is not fully precise. "Mammal" is not even a concept that existed back when the Torah was written.– Double AA ♦Commented Sep 17, 2014 at 3:46
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That verse in Leviticus says don't eat blood. It doesn't say not to inject it.
answered Sep 17, 2014 at 11:45
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4−1. This addresses the question on its own level (take the literal meaning of the verse and, voilà, you've got halacha), but that level is incorrect.– msh210 ♦Commented Sep 17, 2014 at 12:43
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4The "correct level" for practical halacha would be valid rabbinic authority, since Orthodox Jews no longer make rulings based directly on verses. The answer might contain an explanation of how Judaism interprets the verse, but I would see that as a secondary point.– NicCommented Sep 17, 2014 at 14:34
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2@ClintEastwood Actually there is such a Hava Amina. See Pesachim 22a.– Double AA ♦Commented Sep 17, 2014 at 15:00
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1The Torah also states not to cook a goat in its mother's milk; it never says not to eat it in its mother's milk– הנער הזהCommented Mar 23, 2015 at 3:59