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writes that for any danger to an organ or limb, we desecrate Shabbos. into a mama”t (a gas-proof tent). There are a number of medical sit-
Rabbenu Tam (cited in Hagahos Maimoniyos, Hilchos Shevisas Ha’as- uations where it is not appropriate to “imprison” the child in the tent.
sor 2:5) concurs as well. This matter requires further study. I had one case of a baby who was mildly ill and was not eligible for
Hagahos Zer Zahav (Issur V’heter #59:10) discusses the halacha the “exemptions” of Homeland security. According to the criteria, he
regarding a man who is already blind and now has a severe pain or should have been placed in the gas proof tent. However, I advised the
great inflammation in his eyes. Is it permissible to desecrate Shabbos mother not to put him into the tent because this way the mother and
for him? child would be much calmer.
He quotes Rashi, who writes that ‘shuryana de’aina belibba talu,’ My question is: Does one have to consider the possibility of a dou-
meaning that vision is dependent on the pericardium. And similarly, ble doubt of pikuach nefesh for the child, and put him in the protected
Tosfos explain that the “vision of the eye depends on the understand- tent, or is it preferable to keep the rest of the family calm?
ing of the heart.” According to their words, we would not desecrate
Shabbos for a blind man, since, in any event, he does not see. It is not 1 AnsweR
the eye, but the vision of the eye, which is connected to the heart. We
desecrate Shabbos due to the danger of a person losing his vision. If As we have stated above, panic and fear are considered dangerous.
he has no vision, it would follow that there is no allowance for dese- Therefore, there is a real possibility of danger even if the child is
crating Shabbos. However, according to the text of the Rosh, the Ohr placed into the gas proof tent. Therefore, it seems to me that is should
Zarua, the Ramban, and the Rashba, ‘shuryaka delibba be eina talu,’ be up to the physician to decide here. If he feels it is better to leave the
meaning that the ligaments of the heart are connected to the eye. This child outside the tent, the halacha is as he says.
would imply that we desecrate Shabbos even for a blind person whose
eyes hurt, since the ligaments connected to the heart are in danger.
It seems that this also applies in our case, according to Rashi and
Tosfos, that the vision of the eye is connected to the heart and it is per-
mitted to desecrate Shabbos for the retina that became detached from Using the phone on Shabbos to relieve the
the eye, since this could lead to blindness. Similar to this is written in worries of the parents
Sefer Hatzalas Nefashos (#6).
1 Question
During this unsettled time, when our enemies fire deathly missiles
over our Holy Land, there were parents with heart disease who were
Medical Definitions of Injuries to the Eye worried about their children who live in areas where missiles had
fallen. Was it permissible for them to telephone their children on
I sent this question to the ophthalmologist Dr. Tzvi Distanik: Shabbos in order to relieve their worries?
a. Do physicians define the expression ‘shuryayna de’aina belibba
talya’ according to the version that the ligaments of the eyes are 1 AnsweR
connected to the heart or according to the version that vision is
connected to the heart? A similar question occurred to a woman who gave birth on a Friday.
304 1 Medical-HalacHic Responsa of Rav ZilbeRstein Shabbos Desecration to Prevent Anxiety 2 277
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