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ditions where there is no illness. Now, the Minchas Yitzchak (1,108)
permitted cardiac patients to take medication before fulfilling this
mitzvah, because Chazal did not impose this stringency where a
mitzvah is involved. This would therefore apply in our case too.
Moreover, this is not a curative measure but a means of temporarily
diverting blood to the male organ. The Tzitz Eliezer writes similarly (
8, 15,21) that it is permitted to sniff Vicks for a blocked nose because
this is not curative but merely provides temporary relief. This too
applies to our case.
With regard to sechitah, the disinfectant can be applied using thin
plastic sheeting [e.g. a plastic bag] while regarding causing bleeding, it
is not his intention that this should happen and neither is it an inevi-
table outcome however, it is obvious that taking a pill is preferable. If
pills might harm him physically he should use the injection instead.
Response to Question Three: There are no grounds to sue for
divorce when the solution to the problem is available to the husband
in the form of the measures listed in Question Two. It is clear though
that a young person who is about to marry and who knows that he is
impotent must inform his fiancée and may not rely on the fact that he
will use medical intervention, because these measures are not always
successful.2 It is likely that were the bride to know about this, she
would not consent to enter such a marriage. Our comments above
refer only to a person who is already married and who after many
years has grown weak -- in such a case, where remedies and solutions
are available there are no grounds for divorce.
ɳ Summary and Conclusions
1. The husband must receive treatment.
2. The injection may be performed on Shabbos so long as it is
2. See our comments on this topic in siman 33,‘Response to Question One,’ citing
the Ein Yitzchak (Even Ha’ezer 24, 6:42), namely that if a man proves to be
impotent the marriage is automatically considered null and void and no get is
necessary.
Treatment in order to Fulfill Conjugal Right 2 135
