Page 308 - 20818_park-c_efi
P. 308
20818_efi-ab - 20818_park-C_efi-ab | 10 - A | 18-08-20 | 13:46:25 | SR:-- | Cyan
20818_efi-ab - 20818_park-C_efi-ab | 10 - A | 18-08-20 | 13:46:25 | SR:-- | Black
#20818_efi-ab - 20818_park-C_efi-ab | 10 - A | 18-08-20 | 13:46:25 | SR:-- | Yellow
20818_efi-ab - 20818_park-C_efi-ab | 10 - A | 18-08-20 | 13:46:25 | SR:-- | Magenta
#
other sins, for violating Shabbos is compared to idolatry. Therefore, 10 in circumcision is the wound. According to this, it would also be dan-
it is prohibited to violate a Torah prohibition on Shabbos in order to gerous to test the blood of a baby whose eyes hurt, and I believe that
save an organ or limb. The introduction to Eglei Tal states something nowadays physicians do this regularly. Perhaps even though testing
similar to the Pri Megadim, but their words require clarification. On the blood of a baby who is sick is slightly dangerous, it is permissible
the basis of the fact that Shabbos is compared to idolatry, it would be to do so in order to heal the baby. However, for the mitzvah of circum-
prohibited to desecrate Shabbos even for pikuach nefesh. If Shabbos is cision, Hakadosh Baruch Hu, did not command us to place the baby in
not similar to idolatry, then even for danger of an organ or limb one the slightest chance of danger.
should permit violating the Shabbos prohibitions. How do we explain
this? 1 SuMMaRy and Conclusion
According to this view, the desecration of Yom Tov for danger to
an organ or limb is permitted, since only Shabbos and not Yom Tov is It is forbidden to circumcise a baby who has an eye infection be-
compared to idolatry. See the general introduction (of the Pri Megad- cause of the possibility of danger. There are no factors in this issue
im to Hilchos Shabbos, s.v. od) where there is a discussion on whether other than the words of our Sages, who determined that this is dan-
or not Yom Kippur resembles Shabbos in this respect. It is permitted gerous.
from the Torah to desecrate Yom Tov for healing purposes even for a
patient who is not dangerously ill because healing resembles prepara-
tion of food to be eaten, as explained in the Ran (Beitzah 11b, from the
pages of the Rif, s.v. kee), and if so, it is obvious that it is permissible
to desecrate Yom Tov if an organ or limb is endangered. Nonetheless
I have already written in the name of my father-in-law, Rav Y. S. El-
yashiv zt”l, that according to the Ran, who explains that the reason
why it is permissible to put blue dye on the eye on the second day
of Yom Tov, is because of machshirei ochel nefesh (things that enable
food to be eaten on Yom Tov), one cannot do prohibitions on Yom
Tov if the healing effect will only be felt on the morrow, just as it is
forbidden to cook on Yom Tov for the weekday. However, regarding
the issue of danger to a limb, it is permissible, since it is permissible to
transgress a prohibition in order to save an organ or limb.
We must also deliberate if it is permissible for a father to instruct
his young son to perform a prohibited act on Shabbos in order to save
an organ or limb. Rabbenu Chananel is cited by the Achiezer (Vol. 3,
#81:23) who writes in answer to the difficulty posed by the Mutzal
Me’eish (cited in Gilyon Hashas, Yevamos 114a) that the Torah wrote a
special prohibition of “your son” on Shabbos, even though it is in fact
forbidden to encourage a child to actively perform any prohibition
294 1 Medical-HalacHic Responsa of Rav ZilbeRstein Circumcision with an Eye Infection 2 287

