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13 JANUARY 2022
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a skin transplant from a pig because it’s not kosher, and eventually it was done with a cow instead. It might have been intended to amuse viewers by portraying Orthodox Jews as radical, but it is ignorance and the furthest thing from truth.
Dear Samantha To be sure, this is not a new question. While this surgery is novel, pig’s valves have been used previously for heart surgery where the same question arose. Moreover, pig’s skin has been used for facial transplants on burn victims. The basis for the concern is the verse in Leviticus (11: 7-8): “And the swine…it is impure for you. You shall not eat of their flesh or touch their carcasses.” However, as noted by the commentaries, the prohibition against touching the carcass was only applicable in Temple times during the pilgrimage on the three main festivals – Pesach, Shavuot and Sukot. Those were particularly spiritual and auspicious times which necessitated that the Jewish people were in a heightened sate of ritual purity. Even then, it was specifically the flesh of the pig. This, as opposed to the skin or internal organs. Beyond that however, there is a basic principle that when a life is in danger all of Jewish law is suspended and whatever can be done to save the individual must be done. That includes eating a ham sandwich on the afternoon of Yom Kippur, or transplanting a pig’s heart into a nice yiddisher boy who requires it. Someone recently drew my attention to some satirical show where a Jewish girl refused
BOOK BURNING
Dear Rabbi I read about someone getting the world’s first ever heart transplant from a pig. Would this be an acceptable procedure for a Jew? Samantha
Dear Rabbi I know this is a hot topic and you may not want to respond publically to my question, but I would really appreciate a private response at the least as I value your opinion. By now everyone knows the tragic story of the author in Israel who took his own life. A lot of things have been said about him and of course he authored many books. I have a whole collection of his books and I enjoy sharing them with my grandchildren. Do I continue to do so? Burn them? What should I do? Elchonon Dear Elchonon Much has been said on this topic already and by rabbis far greater than myself. As you rightly describe, the whole sorry saga is nothing short of tragic. It’s tragic because the Orthodox community has, for far too long, taken a “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” approach to abuse. Often rumours abound and we revert to the mantra of loshon hora etc. closing our eyes, ears and mouth. We say nothing, we do nothing, and in the interim more harm is being perpetuated. The Torah prohibition of lo selech rachil – “do not go around gossiping,” is followed immediately with the injunction, “do not
Pirkei Avot ַה ְמ ַח ֵּלל,אֹומר ֵ ּמֹוד ִעי ָ ַר ִּבי ֶא ְל ָעזָ ר ַה ,ּמֹועדֹות ֲ ְו ַה ְמ ַבּזֶ ה ֶאת ַה,ֶאת ַה ָּק ָד ִׁשים ְו ַה ֵּמ ֵפר,ְו ַה ַּמ ְל ִּבין ְּפנֵ י ֲח ֵברֹו ָב ַר ִּבים ,ְּב ִריתֹו ֶׁשל ַא ְב ָר ָהם ָא ִבינּו ָע ָליו ַה ָּשׁלֹום ַאף,ּתֹורה ֶׁשּל ֹא ַכ ֲה ָל ָכה ָ ְו ַה ְמגַ ֶּלה ָפנִ ים ַּב ,טֹובים ִ ּומ ֲע ִׂשים ַ תֹורה ָ ַעל ִּפי ֶׁשּיֵ ׁש ְּביָ דֹו …עֹולם ַה ָּבא ָ ֵאין לֹו ֵח ֶלק ָל Rabbi Elazar of Modiin said: one who profanes sacred things, and one who despises the festivals, and one who causes his
stand idly by when your friend’s blood is being spilled.” In the words of the Sforno (amongst numerous others): “And from where is it derived that if you see a man pursuing another to kill him or you see a man pursuing a betrothed maiden, that you must rescue the pursued by taking the life of the pursuer? From “You shall not stand by the blood of your neighbour.” In simple terms, of course gossip is wrong and has its own tragic consequences. But when someone is reputed to be threatening the lives of another – and sexual abuse is a direct threat to one’s life and wellbeing – then you have to do what you have to do, to investigate it and stop it! If in the process of the investigation the one being investigated takes their life, well, alas, tragic as it is, it is not the fault of those looking to protect the lives of the innocent, as per the aforementioned verse. Even for those who still insist it is all rumours, my response is: It is told of the Chofetz Chaim that he was once taken to court on some trumped up charges. At one point his lawyer told the judge: “You really think a man of this rabbi’s stature can do such a thing? They say someone once stole from him and he went running after the thief yelling, ‘I forgive you! I forgive you!’” Whereupon the judge asked, “do you really believe that?” And the lawyer replied: “Your honour, whether I believe it or not is irrelevant. One thing is for sure. They don’t tell such stories about you and me!” I’ll let you draw your own conclusion from that. As for the books themselves,
I would make the following observation. There is a law that when a heretic writes a Torah scroll one is obligated to burn it. In other words, you don’t argue that this is a Torah scroll after all, who cares who wrote it. No! You cannot separate the scroll from the scribe or a book from its author. Ultimately this is an educational decision. You have to consider the fact that you don’t want your children or grandchildren to be exposed to the writings of an individual when they might end up traumatised upon discovering the truth about someone they considered a quasi- celebrity. Moreover, keeping such books around and having children read them can
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Dedicated in memory of Tova bas Chayim Hillel Monis and Meir Shimon ben Avrohom Yakov fellow’s face to blush in public, and one who annuls the covenant of our father Abraham, may he rest in peace, and he who is contemptuous towards the Torah, even though he has to his credit [knowledge of the] Torah and good deeds, he has not a share in the world to come. Many people simply do not realise the value and power of Chol Hamoed. This newspaper does not print on Chol Hamoed precisely due to the importance this Mishnah in particular places upon it. As an aside, Daf Hayomi is tomorrow
Perek 3: Mishna 11
starting the new Masechtah of Moed Koton, which is all about Chol Hamoed. Sign up at MDY.COM. If one seriously needs to work to earn money then it is permissible however one should be extremely careful. The holy words of the sages of the Mishna were not chosen in vain, but were precisely calibrated to guide Jewish people along the tree of life, the correct and true path that we should follow. May we all merit to listen to the words of our sages, Amen.
THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM
make him a legitimate character in the eyes of the reader and might send a terrible message to innocent children that such behaviour is tolerated. In addition, the books are triggers for victims or really anyone sensitive enough to the plight of victims. The most important lesson is per the Talmudic words: “No one can be trusted when it comes to matters of promiscuity.” If you hear something say something. I’ll finish with a heartfelt plea that we finally bring an end to this devastating scourge in our community and in society; and a heartfelt prayer that victims everywhere find healing, peace of mind and tranquillity of soul.
