Questions tagged [health-safety-shmira]
NOTE: For professional medical advice, please contact your physician.
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Releasing terrorists in exchange for remains of past victims
What would be a halachik justification for mediating a deal involving releasing terrorists, who may well murder more victims, in exchange for remains of past victims?
Related: Why is the head of the ...
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Does Ramban say anything about eating and nutrition?
BH
Does Ramban say anything about nutrition and health? Heard he was a doctor, what to eat or not?
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If you're not overweight, can you still weigh yourself during Chol Ha'moed?
Background
On Chol Ha'moed, melacha is sometimes, but not always, permitted.
During Chol Ha'moed, more food may be available than usual. The research literature suggests that, when there's a lot of ...
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If meat is proven carcinogenic - would it be permissible to eat meat?
Based on research by many parties, including the World Health Organization, it appears that some processed (and red) meats are (or may be) carcinogenic. For example, in this article on the WHO's ...
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Flatulence while listening to a Jewish song
In Hilchot Kri'at Shema 3:14, Maimonides writes:
If one is reciting [the Shema] and passes gas, he should stop until the odor subsides and resume his recitation afterwards. The same applies to one ...
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Using pre-cut floss on Shabbos, if the floss is likely to shred
Please imagine:
You floss daily, and your gums never bleed.
You've pre-cut a good length of floss before Shabbos.
However:
Every time you floss, the floss shreds.
In such a case, are you allowed ...
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How does one remove a curse and/or a magical spell that's been placed upon a person/land/lineage/etc? What is the process like?
The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch in סימן קסו - שלא לנחש לעונן ולכשף says that one can go to a non-Jew if they are suffering from an ailment caused by magic, which means that there must be a way to rid ...
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Can you schedule elective surgery for Motza'ei Shabbat, even if a 24-hour fast is required beforehand?
Some operations require fasting an entire day. I understand that one is not allowed to fast on Shabbat (except on Yom Kippur.)
The scenario:
Let's say a patient needs has had knee osteoarthritis. It ...
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The minimum amount of food one must eat on Shabbos
What is the minimum food a person needs to eat on the Sabbath?
(I have an interest in water fasting. This means consuming nothing but water, for days or weeks on end. The power of the fast depends ...
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613 Mitzvot corresponding to the 248 and 365 body parts [duplicate]
Where can I find a chart or list in English of each mitzvah and which body part the mitzvah corresponds to including bones and organs?
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Are we forbidden from striving to develop biotech that can make us immortal since that would essentially be like biting off from the Tree of Life?
In the recent years, there has been a lot of talk and investment in the biotech space regarding life extension, with some saying that the eventual goal is to make us live forever. However, to strive ...
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If you're not overweight, can you still use a food scale and an app to count calories during Chol Ha'moed?
Background
During Chol Ha'moed, more food may be available than usual. The research literature suggests that, when there's a lot of food variety available in our homes, we're more likely to overeat. ...
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Taking care of the body
I heard that the Gaon of Vilna wrote the following: normally, suffering comes to atone for past sins. But, when a person puts himself in a dangerous situation and suffers an accident due to this, this ...
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List of resources for halachot concerning celiac disease
A friend has recently been diagnosed with celiac disease. This is where individuals develop intolerance to gluten, present in foods such as wheat, rye and barley. This will impact a number of halachic ...
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Donating body parts of a corpse
Is a family member or oneself allowed to donate body parts in case of someone's death?
Is this comparable to the donations of kidneys of healthy people, which seems to be allowed?
What if the body ...
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If it is time for set prayer, and one can only either pray or exercise, what comes first?
If one only has the strength or will-power or interest to do one thing, which should it be: Pray (e.g., Shacharis, Mincha or Maariv) or exercise?
For instance, say one comes home from work late one ...
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Things that halacha prohibits because of danger
What are things brought down in Halacha that we do not do because of danger?
Although we cannot define the resultant danger in terms of medical science, we accept and adhere faithfully to our Sages' ...
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How does meshane hateva work?
When I asked my teacher about why some physical descriptions in the bible or medical practices in the talmud seem impossible/wrong today he told me that the physical nature of the world changed, which ...
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Does one need to perform a delayed brit milah at the first possible time?
If a baby is sick on the 8th day, the brit is pushed off until the baby is healthy. Once the mohel and doctor determine that the baby is healthy, does the brit need to be performed right away (on that ...
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Corona "parties" for children
Background
Particularly throughout this present omicron wave, people have floated the idea of having childrens' "corona parties". In such a 'party' parents invite previously uninfected ...
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Does using kidney beans in cholent run a risk of toxicity [closed]
I've seen various sources on the internet discuss the toxicity of raw kidney beans and how slow cooking is not sufficient or could even be counter productive. (See https://www.fda.gov/media/83271/...
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Why does the Torah explicitly endorse the use of lead, a carcinogenic metal, in regards to Tevilah?
In Parshas מטות, the Torah describes 6 different metals which require Tevilah (Bamidbar 31:22), one of them being lead. (Gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, & lead.)
It is learned out that all metals ...
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May one get an electric tattoo for blood pressure monitoring?
Researchers have recently found a way to measure blood pressure via graphene e-tattoos on the skin.
Would one be Halachically allowed to get such a tattoo, or would this fall under the category of ...
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Hand expressing mother's milk on שבת to upkeep supply
The Shulchan Aruch או"ח סימן שכח סעיף לד ו-לה rules that a woman is not allow to hand express milk into a vessel in order to feed an infant from it. She is allowed to hand express into the ...
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How far should we go to accommodate health sensitivities?
This recent article reports about a woman thrown off a flight because she requested that no nuts be served to anybody on the plane, because her severe allergy even to smelling nuts could cause her to ...
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Is there a Halachic book on regular fasting?
I’d like to take on regular fasting for health reasons. My Rav permits this. He also permits it to weaken desire.
But there are so many contradictory opinions that are hard to reconcile in the ...
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Drink fresh water after Shabbos coming from Miriam's well?
Taamei Haminhagim 423 explains the custom of women to draw water immediately when they hear “Borchu” after Shabbos. In short it says,
In Agada it says that the Well of Miriam which is in the sea ...
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What physical/health factors disqualify an otherwise qualified bechor from pidyon haben?
If a first-born son meets the qualifications for pidyon ha'ben (first born of his mother, born naturally, parents are both Yisroel), what physical health issues would "disqualify" the bechor ...
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Am I obligated to say "bless you" (or its equivalent) after someone sneezes?
The Midrash Pirkei D'Rebbi Eliezer (54) writes
המופת הרביעי, מיום שנברא העולם לא היה אדם חולה, אלא בכל מקום שהיה אדם
אם בדרך אם בשוק ועטש היתה נפשו יוצאה מנחיריו ומת, עד שבא יעקב אבינו
ובקש רחמים על ...
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Does Judaism say if you are fat you should have a diet?
Does Judaism say if you are fat you should have a diet?
Moderator's Note: As with all content on Mi Yodeya, if this question is practically relevant to you, please don't rely directly on any ...
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Is it a mitzvah to excercise? [duplicate]
Are there any sources that say it's a mitzvah to exercise- i.e., to walk around the block to keep up your health?
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Vaccines using aborted fetal cells
A friend of mine informed me that a few coronavirus vaccines might have used aborted fetal cells during development and/or production. What I have found by so far is that these cells were grown in ...
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Who is counted in an "outdoor minyan" defined? How should the minyan be run?
An outdoor minyan is one possible attempt to deal with a public health instruction aimed at preventing spreading infections, such as keeping 6 feet from another person and avoiding indoor gatherings.
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Non-medical N95 / KN95 / FFP2 masks, beards, shaving, Chol Ha'moed, and the Omer
Background information
There's no longer a shortage of non-medical N95 / FFP2 masks. Anyone who wants enhanced protection against COVID can now get some. Despite some rumors to the contrary, these ...
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Why "מַה שֶּׁשָּׁתִינוּ יִהְיֶה לִרְפוּאָה"?
Some Sephardim have this toward the end of the after-meal prayer:
מַה שֶּׁאָכַלְנוּ יִהְיֶה לְשָׂבְעָה וּמַה שֶּׁשָּׁתִינוּ יִהְיֶה לִרְפוּאָה
In my own, loose translation:
May what we ate be ...
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If you take a COVID "smell test" every day, do you say a blessing on the scent?
Background
Some experts recommend that everyone test their own sense of smell once daily. This can help to screen for the novel coronavirus disease. This is because COVID often (but not always) ...
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Is Exercise on Shabbos Allowed?
Is one allowed to do exercises on Shabbos?
Are any types allowed? Some examples of different types:
Lifting weights or heavy items
Jumping jacks
Taking a walk (long, but without Techum issues)
Doing ...
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How often should one go to the dentist? [closed]
The Ketzos Hashulchan 126:3 discusses issues with teeth becoming a concern of protecting one's health. Do Poskim today suggest the frequency one must visit the dentist to preemptively protect one's ...
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Kissing a Sefer Torah as it passes
Some people in shul mark it as a sign of respect, as the Torah makes its way to/from the Aron Kodesh, to kiss it, and rush to get as close as possible. Others, given the cold season, think that this ...
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Does an open wound make one unfit to lay Tefillin?
In order to be fit to wear Tefillin one must have a guf naki, a clean body (Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayyim 37:2) . Suppose one has an open wound or sore on one's skin and it is actively bleeding or ...
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Can we violate Shabbos to inject a vaccine?
Vaccines save lives. I'm not here to argue about that, take it somewhere else. If you don't agree, for the purposes of this question just imagine I'm talking about some medicine that accomplishes ...
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Are there sources that discuss the proper role of mood-altering substances?
I am curious if there are any sources (halachic or hashkafic) that discuss the use of mood or personality altering substances. From Caffeine or Chamomile tea all the way to psychiatric medication, ...
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What are usual Jewish practices and doctrine for addictive substances such as alcohol and tobacco?
I live in a community where about a fourth to half of the population is Jewish and I have many friends here that all seem to have different outlooks about addictive substances. Particularly about ...
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Health blessing
where does it say in Gemara (I remember it was in the gemara) that the main blessing we get from HaShem is health, because w/o it we can't enjoy the other blessings?
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Does Beis Din have the authority to quarantine?
In light of the recent discussions about the legality of quarantining potential Ebola patients, I was wondering if Halacha has the mechanism for such a thing.
In an autonomous Jewish society, in ...
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What level of danger is required for HaGomel?
The Gemara says that four have to say Hagomel:
One who went overseas
One who went into a desert.
One who was [deathly] ill.
One who was in prison [on a capital crime].
To what level of danger must ...
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Diets promoted by different Rabbis throughout history
I was curious if there was any information about the sages or other known historical Rabbis who promoted diets for physical/spiritual health.
Obviously, Kosher is Kosher but did anyone ever suggest ...
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During covid-related social distancing minyan is it better for one person to get all aliyot or multiple people at a distance?
During the current covid-19 outbreak all shuls in the United States have closed and minyanim are for the most part not being conducted. The OU recently released guidance to be used when minyanim in ...
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If our leadership do not take disease outbreaks seriously, are they considered responsible for deaths that follow?
As of late, there has been a controversy in various Jewish communities around the world. Certain Rabbis and certain individuals have actively circumvented the preventative measures to help stop the ...
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Rain in Iyar - Miracle Cure?
I remember that a few years ago, it was raining in Iyar and someone (who I believe to be a talmid chacham) told me that drinking the rain in Iyar is a powerful segulah for refuahs. Today, Rosh Chodesh ...
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