33
votes
Accepted
Are there any sources that prohibit childhood vaccinations?
According to R' Dr. David Shabtai, in a 2013 Times of Israel blog post, there is no such source:
The religious exemption exists to protect people whose religion forbids vaccination, to allow ...
- 47.3k
21
votes
Accepted
Why does medical marijuana need a kosher supervision?
Rather than guessing, read it directly from the source.
Some have also suggested that a natural product, derived from the
Cannabis plant, for a life-threatening condition, does not require
...
- 13k
13
votes
Accepted
Where does the Tiferes Yisroel discuss Edward Jenner and smallpox?
Tiferet Yisrael (Boaz) on Avot 3:14 cited and translated here.
- 35.1k
12
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, ...
- 96k
11
votes
Does one say a beracha on medication?
R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 1:82) writes that if the medication itself tastes nice, then one should recite a beracha. R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 4:54:39) writes that R’ Yosef Shalom ...
- 6,107
10
votes
Accepted
Do the rules of chametz apply to IV nutrition?
There are really two parts to your question. One is: do the rules of Chametz apply regardless how it is ingested?
http://www.star-k.org/kashrus/kk-mitzvos-cosmetics.htm
On Pesach, one may not ...
- 138k
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,...
- 11.8k
9
votes
The question of euthanasia
Ohr Someach clearly states:
Jewish law forbids euthanasia in all forms, and is considered an act
of homicide. The life of a person is not "his" - rather, it belongs to
the One Who granted that ...
- 46.5k
9
votes
Accepted
Is one allowed to have his child take a non-kosher oral vaccine if the law requires it to attend school?
Even when the circumstances are not life-threatening (neither for the choleh nor for others), but the medication/immunization would prevent illness (choli she'eyn bo sakana), non-kosher medication may ...
- 17.4k
8
votes
Accepted
The Seder & diabetes
There's a Jewish Diabetes Association - guide for diabetics that puts out a list of the minimum shiurim; normally we say "oh play it safe and eat a larger amount of matza/wine just to be safe", but ...
- 128k
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 ...
- 44.5k
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 ...
- 44.5k
7
votes
Plastic surgery
The background to this discussion is that the Torah doesn't considers a person's body to be his to do what he wants with it. It is an instrument in the service of God.
Here is how the Nishmat Avraham ...
- 44.5k
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 ...
- 42.4k
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 ...
- 25.3k
6
votes
Accepted
May a lady take a pregnancy test on Shabbos?
Rabbi Abadi says it is permitted; here:
Date: 9/23/2004 7:27:00 PM
Message: Am I allowed to take a non-digital pregnancy test on shabbos?
Reply: Yes CYA
- 138k
6
votes
Doctor recommends pacemaker. Does the patient have to listen?
There is a responsum from Rav Moshe about a patient refusing medical care, in the fifth volume of Tzomet's halachic journal, תחומין. Here is a very loose translation/summary of what he writes there.
...
- 18.9k
6
votes
Why should you be seeking medical attention?
Tosefos to Bava Kamma 85a says this is exactly what the Torah comes to teach with the repetition of the words "רפא ירפא":
שנתנה רשות לרפאות - א"ת והא מרפא לחודיה שמעינן ליה וי"ל ...
- 57.8k
6
votes
Does one say a beracha on medication?
The existing answer provides a nice survey of final p'sak. The following is the development from the sources:
The Gemara Berachos 36a has the following conclusion:
מהו דתימא כיון דלרפואה קא מכוין לא ...
- 57.8k
6
votes
Loshon hara to a therapist
The Chofetz Chaim writes in a note to the fifth detail of permissible Lashon Hara in Hilchos Lashon Hara 10:14
אפשר דהוא הדין אם כוונתו בסיפורו להפיג את דאגתו מלבו - הוי כמכוון לתועלת על להבא, [ולפי ...
- 57.8k
6
votes
Is it permissible to listen to a Rabbi instead of a doctor?
The Maharik as well as the Shevus Yaakov bring the Gemara in Niddah to prove that, on the contrary, Chazal would rely on the doctor's prognosis even in cases of potential Kares. Indeed, as the Rambam ...
- 4,283
6
votes
Use tefillin without permission?
Shulchan Aruch O.C. 14:4 states that one may borrow someone's tallit without permission. Rema adds that this rule applies to tefillin, as well.
However, this article states that this assumes a few ...
- 69.5k
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 ...
- 10.6k
6
votes
Accepted
5
votes
Halachot of IVF
For future reference, there are two more very relevant books on the topic in English. I read them both and they are excellent
Third Key: Jewish Guide to Fertility by Baruch and Michal Finkelstein, ...
- 44.5k
5
votes
Pidyon in the case of Siamese birth
As per Menachos 37a, the payment is five sela'im per head.
בעא מיניה פלימו מרבי מי שיש לו שני ראשים באיזה מהן מניח תפילין א''ל או
קום גלי או קבל עלך שמתא אדהכי אתא ההוא גברא א''ל איתיליד לי ינוקא ...
- 18.9k
5
votes
Accepted
Can I donate blood on yom tov?
In brief, no, this is not permissible. Two issues:
1 - See here regarding the problem of bleeding and causing a wound on Shabbat. Some say it is a prohibition of shochet - slaughtering. Others say ...
- 69.5k
5
votes
The question of euthanasia
There are at least two classical cases in the gemara, and (unsurprisingly) they would lead to conflicting generalizations. The halakhah's position is nuanced.
The first case is the people of the city ...
- 9,105
5
votes
Popular Medical Halacha Poskim for Modern Medicine?
Rabbi Avraham S. Avraham has written a few popular books including Nishmat Avraham on Medical Halacha that have been translated into English, too.
He was very close with Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ...
- 6,107
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 ...
- 47.3k
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