14
votes
Accepted
Circumcision for conversion of someone whose male genitalia have been removed
The Shulchan Arukh (YD 268:1) rules (like the Tur, quoting a Gaon; see too Tosfot Yevamot 46b) that a male whose genitals have been removed ("Nikhrat haGid") doesn't need Milah or Hatafat Dam Berit, ...
- 101k
9
votes
Accepted
What is the source for Rambam's "physician's oath"?
This text was not authored by Maimonides. Upon the original author's request it first appeared as a Hebrew translation, from the original German, in a journal called 'Ha-me'asef' (המאסף - May 10, 1790,...
- 12.1k
7
votes
Is there a prayer for seeing an ambulance?
R Telushkin asks exactly this question in one of his earlier books (I believe it is The book of Jewish values but can check if important to someone). He is quoted here
Rabbi Telushkin mentioned ...
- 54k
7
votes
May a man become a gynecologist?
R Abraham Abraham (Nishmat Avraham, vol. 2, p. 134) writes that "Rav (Shlomo Zalman) Auerbach told me that a man may learn a medical or paramedical profession, since they involve pikuach nefesh". He ...
- 54k
7
votes
Pekuach nefesh and punishment
We have similar concepts in the Mishna.
One is the exiled murderer who is not allowed to leave his city of refuge, even if the entire nation needs him.
See Makos פרק ב - משנה ז
וַאֲפִלּוּ ...
- 44.7k
7
votes
What things are done differently for an adult circumcision?
THe Gemmorah (Kiddushin 29 I think) says: "If father didn't Ccized him he's obligated to Ccze himself when he grows up" (it is not clear who's Mitzvah it is in the first place - חפצא or גברא).
It's ...
- 28k
7
votes
Intimacy, עוֹנָה and Narcotics
"One is not allowed to be drunk during intimacy with one's spouse.
See... Issurei Biya 21:12."
The Rambam does not use the word אסור (forbidden) as he does by the case of thinking of ...
- 9,590
7
votes
Accepted
Eye donations in Halacha
R Chaim Jachter has a very good summary of relevant opinions
Rav Waldenberg and Dayan Weisz categorically forbid cornea transplants because of the issue of denigrating the dead
Rav Isser Yehuda ...
- 54k
7
votes
Accepted
Does a woman who gives her eggs become yoledet
If there is no vaginal delivery, there is no din of yoledes. In fact, Shulchan Aruch YD 194:14 says that in the rare case of a caesarean birth that had zero vaginal discharge, there is no din of ...
- 13.4k
6
votes
How much blood makes a niddah?
Any small amount of uterine blood at all that leaves the uterus is enough. There is no minimum. (See Gemara Niddah 40a; Yoreh Deah 183:1, with Shach:3)
"...even if she only saw a drop of blood the ...
- 11k
6
votes
Accepted
6
votes
Articles on care of terminally ill patients according to Halacha
There is plenty of material available online, e.g.,
this summary on Jewish Perspectives on End-of-Life Care from MyJewishLearning
Treatment of Terminally Ill Patients According to Jewish Law by Dov ...
- 54k
6
votes
Egg donation within a family
Nishmat's Women’s Health and Halacha deals with some of these issues.
The page on “Egg Donation & Surrogacy” contains this information:
There is no clear halachic consensus as to whether the ...
- 48.7k
6
votes
Accepted
Interpretation of Amulet from Moroccan Rabbi
I am using a dictionary of Syriac, which is close in meaning to Arabic. I could be mistaken. The letters around Magen David spell טפטף י-ה - make noise Hashem (plea), clatter, do not be silent. I.e. ...
- 5,076
5
votes
Jewish prayer for our doctor after baby delivery?
Mazal Tov!
I suggest Psalm 128:
שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת אַשְׁרֵי כָּל יְרֵא יְהֹוָה הַהֹלֵךְ בִּדְרָכָיו:
יְגִיעַ כַּפֶּיךָ כִּי תֹאכֵל אַשְׁרֶיךָ וְטוֹב לָךְ:
אֶשְׁתְּךָ | כְּגֶפֶן פֹּרִיָּה ...
- 48.6k
5
votes
Gechazi's accursed descendants
Interesting theory as to the potential translation into psoriasis, but it seems unlikely based on Rav Hirsch's challenges to those who compared tza'raas to leprosy:
Tzaraat is not 'leprosy' as we ...
- 14.8k
5
votes
Why do the best of doctors go to Gehinnom according to the Maharsha?
I am reminded of an insight I heard from R' Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l.
Shaul was assigned the job of killing all of the tribe of Amaleiq. He led a war that almost did it; but he left one person -- ...
- 9,971
5
votes
Accepted
Is the pain from the brit milah most severe at the 3rd day after it?
This comes from IbnEzra on the pasuk in Vayishlach about the people of Shechem. The Mishna in Shabbos Perek 9 Mishna 3 cites this pasuk.
Vayishlach 34:25
וַיְהִי֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜י ...
- 43.5k
5
votes
Is it proper to daven for someone who has "no hope"?
To quote the Gemara in Berachos 10a:
For background: King Chizkiya was ill. Yeshaya gave him a Nevuah that he would die from this illness, and after telling Chizkiya that there was nothing that could ...
- 34.7k
5
votes
How did the Rambam write about kidney removal?
The Rambam didn't know a successful kidney removal was possible. He was working under the assumption that anyone whose kidney was removed would necessarily die soon.
The Rambam's source is Bechorot 7:...
- 25.9k
5
votes
Are Noahide women permitted to undergo a tubal ligation?
According to sefer Sheva Mitzvot Hashem, (Vol II, helek 5, 9:1), a tubal ligation is permitted for bnot noach. And further says: that even more than this could be done for reasons of safety or health ...
- 7,084
5
votes
Black seed (Nigella Sativa) - "קצח" in talmud
Ketzach - assuming that this name refers to the same plant in question - is mentioned in the Talmud twice as a cure for heart disease:
"He who is in the habit of taking black cumin will not ...
- 28.4k
5
votes
What blessings would one say upon receiving the COVID19 vaccine?
I will present a brief survey of opinions here; much (digital) ink has been spilled on this topic so I can't claim this answer to be fully comprehensive, but it should provide an outline as well as ...
- 46.6k
5
votes
Corona "parties" for children
Regarding "corona parties", one contemporary Rabbi did indeed rule that it is forbidden to purposely get together to infect oneselves. Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer is quoted in this late 2020 ...
- 20.2k
4
votes
Woman with 2 wombs in regards to pidyon haben
the mishna in bechoros states that a child born after a ceaserian birth does not require pidyon (this is codified as halcha). gemara explains that although he is considered the opener of the womb, he ...
- 1,229
4
votes
Can a man who has undergone sex change give his wife a Get?
I heard that the London Beis Din sometime in the 20th century had such a case and asked Rabbi Ruderman if this person could give a get. Rabbi Ruderman didn't discuss if the gender change would have ...
- 20.2k
4
votes
Headache remedy on a fast day?
The Toronto Kollel has developed a sustained-timed release caffeine capsule
which is taken before the ta'anis and begins to release 8 to 10 hours later.
It has been available for many years and ...
4
votes
Do dental instruments need to be toyveled?
Rav Heinemann explains, "Items not requiring tevila include utensils made from metal or glass whose intended purpose is not for food usage, e.g. an arts and crafts knife. Even if the knife was to be ...
- 14.8k
4
votes
Accepted
Is one allowed to listen to music for therapeutic purposes during sefira and the three weeks?
R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo, Sefiras Haomer 11:n14) writes that one who will become overly upset without music may listen to recordings. (source)
- 1,474
4
votes
Accepted
What is a רופא אומן?
Sefaria translates rofe uman as competent. R Eliyahu Touger as professional.
Going back to the source in the gemara Bava Kamma 85a, one sees a more nuanced story (based on artscroll commentary there)...
- 54k
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