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Despite this logic, it seems to my father-in-law that perhaps nature 1 AnsweR
has changed regarding eye infections, and that nowadays, there is no
danger to the heart if the eye is in danger. Therefore, one should not It says in the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De’ah #262:2): A sick baby is not
desecrate Shabbos with Torah prohibitions if it is clear to the physi- circumcised until he has recovered and is healthy. One waits seven
cian that there is no danger to life. This matter requires further study. days from the time he was cured and then he circumcises him. This
applies if his fever has broken (meaning that the illness has left his
body) if it is a general illness that affects the entire body. But if he had
#
1 SuMMaRy and Conclusions an illness that affected one specific limb, such as if his eyes hurt a bit,
one waits until he is healthy and then he circumcises him immedi-
ately. The Rama adds that if the baby has severe pain in his eyes, it is
1. It is permissible to violate prohibitions on Shabbos in an un- considered an illness that affects the whole body.
usual manner in order to save an organ or limb from danger,
The source for the above is in the Mishnah (Shabbos 137a), where it
as explained in the Shulchan Aruch (#328:17). Therefore, it is states that “a baby who is sick is not circumcised until he is healthy.”
permissible to write with the left hand if there is a possibility of The Gemara says there: Shmuel said: Once his fever breaks, we allow
erring or forgetting. If the Jewish nurse wants to write with her him seven full days for his complete recovery. This is difficult to un-
right hand, one is obligated to prevent her from doing so, and derstand. The Mishnah says that we wait until he is healthy, but does
the physician should write with his left hand. If there is a gentile not mention that one must wait seven additional days. From where
nurse or physician available, it is preferable that they write, and did Shmuel learn that one has to wait seven days? Perhaps we can
even with their right hand, because the needs of the patient on say that Shmuel understood the words “until he recovers” as implying
Shabbos can be done by a gentile. If only a few patients are hos- that one must wait seven days, since before seven days have passed his
pitalized, the details can be easily remembered, and it is clear to recovery cannot be considered complete.
the physician that there is no possibility of erring or forgetting, However, the words of Shulchan Aruch cited above, seem to con-
then it is prohibited to write on Shabbos, even in an unusual way. tradict this, for they differ somewhat from the words of the Mishnah
2. The slit lamp can be lit on Shabbos in an unusual way, such as by (see Rambam, Hilchos Milah 1:16). The Shulchan Aruch says that we
using the back of his left hand. The physican should not allow “…wait from the time he recovers from his illness, seven days.” This
his colleagues to light the lamp using their right hands. wording does not seem to imply that the seven days are the time it
takes to recover. If so, the question is still relevant. How does Shmuel
Traveling to the hospital on Shabbos is permitted with a gentile know that we give the baby seven additional days? The Mishnah only
driver. It may be permissible for a Jewish driver to drive because it says that we do not circumcise him until he recovers, but it does not
is possible that nowadays nature has changed, but this would requie say that we wait for an additional seven days?
further study. If the Jewish doctor cannot find a gentile driver to drive It seems to me that this question can be resolved by the fact that
him on Shabbos, he should make every effort to get there before Shab- the word “yavri” (be healthy) has two meanings: 1. From the word
bos. “refuah”, meaning to be healed and recover from his illness. 2. “Health
and rehabilitation.” In the Mishnah, the words “ad sheyavri”, (until
 he is healthy) are superfluous. It would have been sufficient to say:

300 1 Medical-HalacHic Responsa of Rav ZilbeRstein Circumcision with an Eye Infection 2 281