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gives permission to heal. As stated clearly in the Shulchan Aruch
(Yoreh De’ah 336,1):“The Torah has given the physician license to heal
and it is a mitzvah.” The Shach writes,“[It is necessary to tell us this]
so that [the physician] should not say, ‘Why do I need this trouble,
perhaps I will make a mistake and unintentionally kill someone?’” The
aforementioned medications also carry some risk and on occasion
may interact with some other drug to which they are antagonistic. So
long as the intention of the person administering the medication is
to heal the Torah licenses this but if the physician’s purpose is not to
heal why should he look for trouble? He may err and be responsible
for some mishap.

Proof to Dr. N. Zilber’s argument can be adduced from the mish-
nah in Avos (2, 7): “The more wives [a person marries] the more
witchcraft [he will have in his home].” Rabbenu Yonah explains: “For
when there are many wives this causes them to practice witchcraft in
order to increase their husband’s love for them and the less favored
wife will perform double the amount until she inclines his heart to
her. Her rival will then provoke her and he will be held responsible
for all this, for it is a grave sin, as it is written, ‘Do not let a sorceress
live’ (Shemos 22:17).” We thus see that Chazal are concerned about
mishaps that can result from struggles over this desire and whoever
started is held responsible.

The best idea therefore for is for the woman – together with her
husband – to approach a Torah scholar who will advise them appro-
priately and warn the husband to observe the Torah’s laws as set out
in the Shulchan Aruch: (Orach Chaim 240:1-4): “If he is married he
should not be with his wife too frequently, except at the times specified
by the Torah… A person who is immersed in cohabitation ages sud-
denly… Medical scholars say that one in a thousand people dies from
other diseases and the rest from excessive cohabitation.” If the Torah
scholar sees that the husband needs medication, he will persuade him
calmly to take it willingly, and if he sees that the husband is obstinate,
he is allowed to instruct the physician to give the medication to the
woman. In such an eventuality neither she nor the physician need

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