1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

Praying for the Death of a Patient:
A Halachic View
Daniel Eisenberg, MD
Department of Radiology
Albert Einstein Medical Center
Assistant Professor of Radiology
Jefferson Medical College
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Exodus 32:32
1
Rashbam Exodus 32:32
Ramban Exodus 32:32
1
1
Numbers 11:14-15
1
Rashi Numbers 11:15
Ramban Numbers 11:15
1
1
Kings I 19:4
1
Rashi Kings I 19:4
Radak Kings I 19:4
Ralbag Kings I 19:4
Metzudas David I Kings 19:4
1
1
1
1
Yonah 4:1-3, 8-9
2
Rashi Yonah 4
Ibn Ezra Yonah 4
Radak Yonah 4
Metzuda David Yonah 4
Mishna Smachos Chapter 1
2
2
2
2
3
Talmud Bavli, Kesubos 104a
Talmud Bavli, Nedarim 40A
3
3
Ran, Nedarim 40A
3
Talmud Bavli, Tractate Berachos 10A
Talmud Bavli, Taanis 23A
Talmud Bavli, TractateBava Metzia 84A
Talmud Yerushalmi Tractate Shabbat 19:2
Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah, Chapter 339:1 (Laws of a Moribund Patient)
Aruch Hashulchan Yoreh Deah 335:3 (Laws of Bikur Cholim)
Igros Moshe, Choshen Mishpat II:74D
Igros Moshe, Choshen Mishpat II:73A (excerpt)
Responsa Minchas Shlomo 1:91 (34)
Responsa Tzitz Eliezer 5 - Ramat Rachel Chapter 5
Responsa Tzitz Eliezer 9:13
Responsa Tzitz Eliezer 9:47
Nishmat Avraham, Yoreh Deah 335:5 (Praying that a sick person should die)
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah, Chapter 335 (Laws of Bikur Cholim)
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
9
10
Shach, Yoreh Deah, Chapter 335:sk4
10
Aruch Hashulchan Yoreh Deah 335: (Laws of Bikur Cholim)
10
Translations by Daniel Eisenberg, MD unless otherwise indicated.
Please do not reproduce original translations without written permission.
Hebrew text used with permission of Bar Ilan Responsa Project and TES software.
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Praying for the Death of a Patient: A Halachic View - Daniel Eisenberg, MD
Exodus 32:32
And now, if You would forgive their sin. But if not, erase me now from Your
book that You have written.”
Rashbam Exodus 32:32
Erase me now from Your book- the book of life that you wrote.
al weqt al wxt zeny
`¨p i¦pg¥ n§ o¦i`© m`¦ e§ mz`
¨ H¨ g© `V¨ Y¦ m`¦ dY¨ r© e§
:Y¨ a§ z¨
¨ M xW£
¤ ` Lx§t§ Q¦ n¦
al weqt al wxt zeny m"ayx
. . .zazk xy` miig xtq- jxtqn [`p ipgn]
Ramban Exodus 32:32
And now, if You would forgive their sin- In my opinion [the verse means]:
Moshe said, “And now, if You would forgive their sin, in your mercy [that will be
well]; But if not, erase me now in their place from the book of life, and I will share
their punishment”. . .
Numbers 11:14-15
14. Alone I cannot carry this entire nation for it is too heavy for me. 15. And if
this is how You treat me, please kill me if I have found favor in Your eyes, so
that I not see my evil."
Rashi Numbers 11:15
And if this is how You treat me- Moshe’s strength was weakened like a woman,
when Hashem showed him the punishments that would bring upon them in the
future over this (the people’s complaining). Moshe said before Him, if so [that you
will punishment in such a way], then kill me first.
Ramban Numbers 11:15
Please kill me- the meaning is that You should send against me those who kill
with the sword for “for my death is better”(Yona 4:3) even by the sword of man
“than to live” (Yona 4:3) with this grief. [Or] perhaps the word “horgeini (kill
me)”means “take my life” (and not death by the hand of man). . .
Kings I 19:3-4
When he saw the danger, arose and fled for his life and he came to Be’er
Sheva that is in Judah and he left the youth (his attendant) there. He then went
into the wilderness, a day’s journey; and he came and sat under a solitary
juniper tree, and requested for his soul to die. He said, “It is enough! Now,
Hashem, take my soul, for I am not better than my forefathers.”
Rashi Kings I 19:4
He said, “It is enough!- My long life is enough. For how long will I be harried
like this.
Radak Kings I 19:4
He then went into the wilderness- Even in the kingdom of Judah he did not feel
safe for he was afraid that Jezebel would send [messengers] to kill him there. So he
went out from the city and went to the wilderness to a place where he would not
find food and [might] die. He would either die [of starvation] rather than live [as a
fugitive] or Hashem would instruct him what to do. He said, “It is enough!-It is
too much for me to have more [life] in this world for I am in danger each and
every day. As Yonason the targum states: “He said, ‘My long life is enough. For
how long will I be harried like this.’”
Ralbag Kings I 19:4
And requested for his soul to die- Behold, [because] the hunger was great, he
chose to die. And because of this he said that the span of his life had been enough
and requested from Hashem that He take his soul and that he die for he [felt that
he] was not greater than his fathers that he should deserve to live such an
amazingly long life.
Metzudas David I Kings 19:4
Under a juniper tree- to seek protection in its shadow. And requested- he
requested from Hashem to take his soul and to die by the hands of Heaven. It is
enough! Now- that is to say: “since I am now in pain, I consider my days too
many and I do not want them. So take my life, for I will not live forever, for I am
not better than my fathers that I will be saved from [eventual] death. And if so,
what difference if I die now or die later?
1
al weqt al wxt zeny o"anx
dyn ik ,izrc itle . . .- mz`hg `yz m` dzre
oi` m`e ,jingxa ,mz`hg `yz m` dzre xn`
. . .mypr ip` leaq`e miigd xtqn mzgz `p ipgn
`i wxt xacna
m¨rd¨ l¨M z`¤ z`U¨
¥ l iC¦ a§
© l ikŸ
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© `Ÿl (ci)
i¦N dUŸ
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d`¤ x§`¤ l`© e§ Li¤pi¥rA§ og¥ iz`¨
¦ vn¨ m`¦ bŸxd¨ `¨p i¦pb¥x§d¨
:iz¨
¦ rx¨A§
eh weqt `i wxt xacna i"yx
dawpk dyn ly egk yyz - il dyr z` dkk m`e
`iadl cizr `edy zeprxetd d"awd ede`xdyk
:dlgz ipbxd ok m` ,eiptl xn` .z`f lr mdilr
eh weqt `i wxt xacna o"anx
,axga mibxed ilr glyzy - bxd `p ipbxd mrhe
.dfd xrva iign mc` axga elit` izen aeh ik
. . .ipzind enk `edy okzie
c-b :hi wxt ` mikln
ra© W¤ x`¥ A§ `Ÿa¨Ie© FWt©
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K©ld¨ `Ede§ :mW¨ Fx£rp©Îz`¤ g©PI©e© dcEdi¦
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c weqt hi wxt ` mikln i"yx
sixhn `p` izni` cr `kx` il ibq - ax xn`ie
:oick
c weqt hi wxt ` mikln w"cx
ik gha `l 'cedi ux`a 'it` - xacna jld `ede
aeyid on `vie my ebxdl lafi` glyz `ny `xi
ik zenie dign `vni `ly mewna xacna el jlde
:dyri dn 'd xac eil` d`xi e` eiign ezen xga
dpkqa ea ip`e f"dra cer il ax xnelk - ax xn`ie
cr `kx` il ibq xn`e mbxz ozpeie meie mei lk
:oick sxhin `p` izni`
c weqt hi wxt ` mikln b"alx
did arxd wfegn dpd - zenl eytp z` l`yie
ywae digy dna el ax ik xn` dfle zena xgea
`ed aeh `l ik edzinie eytp z` gwiy i"ydn
:miigd on `ltpd jxe`l df iptn dkfiy eizea`n
c weqt hi wxt ` mikln cec zcevn
'dn l`y - l`yie :elva zeqgl - mzex zgz
l"x - dzr ax :miny icia zenle eytp zgwl
miaexnl ini il miaygp dpd xrva dzr ip`e li`ed
mlerl `l ik iytp gw jkle mda utg il oi`e
dzind on lvpdl izea`n ikp` aeh `l ik dig`
:onf xg`l il dn dzr il dn ok m`e
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Praying for the Death of a Patient: A Halachic View - Daniel Eisenberg, MD
Yonah 4
1. And it displeased Yonah exceedingly, and it angered him. 2. And he
prayed to Hashem and said, "Please, Hashem, was this not my contention
while I was still on my land? For this reason I had hastened to flee to
Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to
anger, with much kindness, and relenting of evil. 3. And now, Hashem,
take now my soul from me, for my death is better than my life." . . .
8. And it was when the sun shone, that G-d appointed a stifling east wind,
and the sun beat on Yonah's head, and he fainted, and he begged for his
soul to die, and he said, "My death is better than my life." 9. And G-d
said to Yonah; Are you so very grieved about the kikayon? And he
said, "I am very grieved to death."
c wxt dpei
(a) :Fl xg¦
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©Ie© (`)
d¤f `Fl£d c¨eŸci§ d¨P`¨ xn`Ÿ
© Ie© c¨eŸci§ l`¤ l¥NR© z¦
§ Ie©
iY¦ n§ C©w¦ o¥M lr© iz¦ n¨ c§ `© lr© izFi¡
¦ d cr© ix¨
¦ac§
oEPg© l`¥ dY¨ `© iM¦ iY¦ r§ c¨
©i iM¦ dWi
¨ W¦ x§Y© gŸ
© xa¦§ l
:d¨rx¨d¨ lr© mg¦
¨ pe§ cq¤ g¤ ax©e§ m¦iR© `© Kx¤`¤ mEgx©e§
aFh iM¦ i¦PO¤ n¦ iW¦ t©
§ p z`¤ `¨p gw© c¨eŸci§ dY©
¨ re§ (b)
. . . :i¨Ig© n¥ izFn
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mic¦ w¨ gEx
© midŸ
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© ie© Wn¤ X¤ d© gŸ
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:z¤en¨
Rashi Yonah 4
1. And it displeased Yonah- He said, now the non-Jewish nations will say
that I am a false prophet. 2. Was this not my contentionI- know that if
they repent, You will not destroy them I will appear a liar in their eyes.
c wxt dpei i"yx
m"ekrd exn`i eiykr xn` - dpei l` rxie (`)
rcei - ixac df `ld (a) :xwyd 'iap ip`y
did`e 'aixgz `l daeyza exfgi m`y ip`
:mdipira oxwy
Ibn Ezra Yonah 4
3. And now- Because he saw that Israel would not repent, he feared that
the evil would befall them. Therefore, he prayed: “take now my soul”like
[Moshe prayed] “erase me now”and Elisha. . .
c wxt dpei `xfr oa`
eyr `l l`xyi ik eze`x xeara - dzre (b)
ok lr mdilr drxd `eazy cgti daeyz
xy`ke `p ipgn jxck iytp z` `p gw lltzi
:l`fg egyna ryil` dyr
Radak Yonah 4
2. And he prayed- Yonah prayed: “Take now my soul” and he preceded
his prayer with “please Hashem. . .”Was this not my contention- It is
what I thought and I said in my heart, for I was afraid that they would
repent and You would withhold the evil, and their repentance would cause
evil for Israel. 3. And now, Hashem, take now my soul- that I should not
see the evil [that will befall] Israel, similar to what Moshe, our teacher,
said (Exodus 32:32): “erase me now from Your book,” and similarly he
said (Numbers 11:15): “please kill me.”
c wxt dpei w"cx
iytp z` `p gw lltzd dpei - lltzie (a)
- ixac df `ld :'d `p` ezlitz zlgza xn`e
iziid ik ial mr xacne ayeg iziidy dn
didze drxd lr mgpze eaeyiy cgtn
gw ,dzre (b) :l`xyil drx znxeb mzaeyz
enk l`xyi zrxa d`x` `ly - iytp z` `p
oke jxtqn `p ipgn d"r epiax dyn xn`y
:bexd `p ipbxd xn`
Metzudas David Yonah 4
3. And now, Hashem- and this I request of You, that You take my life
from me for my death is preferable to my living and seeing the destruction
of my people brought about through me. 8. Stifling [east wind]- that is, it
made such a loud noise until it deafened the ears. And the sun beat- the
sun’s rays beat down on Yona’s head. And he fainted- because of the heat
of the wind and the heat of the sun. And he begged for his soul- he
requested that his soul be separated from him so that he might die. And he
said- he said to himself, better is my death than my life. And this is
because he became very sick from the strength of the heat of the wind and
the rays of the sun. And he bore great suffering. 9. To death- until I would
choose death as a result [of losing the protection of the kikayon] or it
means until my death it will greatly disturb me and I will not be comforted
forever.
c wxt dpei cec zcevn
jnn ywa` `ed oke li`ed - 'd dzre (b)
iign izen aeh ik ipnn iytp z` gwzy
:daqd d`a i"r xy` inr ipa oca`a ze`xl
didy cr ax oe`y rinyn l"x - ziyixg (g)
ynyd l"x - ynyd jze :mipf`d z` yixgn
xeara - slrzie :dpei y`x lr eivevip jilyd
- eytp z` l`yie :ynyd mege gexd zning
:zeni ornl epnn cxtdl eytp z` ywae l`y
lr edfe iign izen aeh eytp l` xn` - xn`ie
ivevipe gexd zening swezn c`n dlgp ik
cr - zen cr (h) :daxd mixeqi laqe ynyd
dzind cr l"x e` df xeara dzind xga`y
:mler ini lk mgp` `le il dxgi
2
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Praying for the Death of a Patient: A Halachic View - Daniel Eisenberg, MD
Mishna Smachos Chapter 1
Halacha 4: We may not close the eyes of a dying man. Whoever
touches and moves him is a murderer. For R. Meir used to say: He
can be compared to a lamp which is flickering; should a man touch it he
extinguishes it. Similarly whoever closes the eyes of a dying man is
considered as if he had taken his life.
Talmud Bavli, Kesubos 104a
When Rabbi Judah the Prince (Rebbe) was dying, the rabbis decreed a
public fast and offered prayers for the prolongation of his life. . .
Rebbe’s handmaid ascended the roof and prayed: “The heavenly ones
desires Rebbi [to join them] and the mortals desire Rebbi [to remain with
them]; may it be the will [of God] that the mortals may overpower the
immortals”. However, when she saw how often he needed the bathroom,
painfully taking off his tefillin and putting them on again, she prayed:
“May it be the will [of the Almighty] that the heavenly ones may
overpower the mortals”. But since the Rabbis continued their prayers for
[heavenly] mercy she picked up a jar and threw it down from the roof to
the ground. [For a moment] they ceased praying, and the soul of Rabbi
departed.
t erp ,ujna ,fxn
uc gdubv 'uhbhg ,t ihnmgn iht :s vfkv
vhv rhtn hcr 'ohns lpua tuv hrv uzhznu
uc gdba iuhf ';ypyn tuva rbk ukaun
hbhg ,t omgnv kf lf 'uvchf shn ost
,t ynua tuv ukhtf uhkg ihkgn 'xxudv
/u,nab
t :se ;s ,ucu,f ,fxn hkcc sunk,
ibcr urzd 'hcrs vhapb jbs tnuh tuvv
rnts itn kf :hrntu 'hnjr ugcu t,hbg,
vh,nt tehkx /crjc resh 'wrs vhapb jb
,t ihaecn ohbuhkg :vrnt 'trdhtk hcrs
iumr hvh 'hcr ,t ihaecn whbu,j,vu hcr
htzjs iuhf /ohbuhkgv ,t ohbu,j, upufha
ihkhp, .kju 'txfv ,hck khhgs hbnhz vnf
iumr hvh :vrnt 'rgymneu uvk jbnu
uuv tku /ohbu,j,v ,t ohbuhkg upufha
tzuf vkea 'hnjr hgchnkn ibcr he,a
hnjrn ueh,aht '[tgrtk] trdhtn thhsa
/hcrs vhapb jbu
t sung n ;s ohrsb ,fxn hkcc sunk,
Talmud Bavli, Nedarim 40A
A student of Rabbi Akiva was ill, but none of the Rabbis visited him.
Rabbi Akiva entered [the student’s room] to visit, and because he
cleaned and swept, the student lived. [The student] said: “Rebbe, you
have caused me to live.” Rabbi Akiva went out [to the study hall] and
announced: “Anyone who does not visit the sick- it is as if he spills
blood.” When Rav Dimi came, he said: “Anyone who visits the sick
causes him to live, and anyone who does not visit the sick causes him to
die.”Causes him to die!? What has he done [to cause the death]? Maybe
we should rather say: “Anyone who visits the sick requests mercy [from
Hashem] for him to live, and anyone who does not visit the sick requests
mercy [from Hashem] for him to die.” For him to die, you think!?
Rather, anyone who does not visit the sick does not pray for him to live
and not for him to die.
Ran, Nedarim 40A
'vkja tcheg wr hshnk,n sjt shnk,c
tcheg wr xbfbu 'ureck ohnfj uxbfb tk
'vhj uhbpk umchru uschfa khcacu 'ureck
kf :arsu tcheg wr tmh !hb,hhjv 'hcr :k"t
/ohns lpua ukhtf - ohkuj recn ihta hn
,t recnv kf :rnt hnhs cr t,t hf
recn ubhta kfu 'vhjha uk orud - vkujv
?tnrd htn /,unha uk orud - vkujv ,t
aecn - vkujv ,t recnv kf tnhkht
,t recn ihta kfu 'vhjha ohnjr uhkg
,unha ',unha ohnjr uhkg aecn - vkujv
iht - vkuj recn ihta kf 'tkt ?s"x
/,unha tku vhjha tk ohnjr uhkg aecn
t sung n ;s ohrsb ,fxn i"r
ANYONE WHO DOES NOT VISIT THE SICK DOES NOT PRAY FOR HIM
TO LIVE AND NOT FOR HIM TO DIE: It appears to me that the Talmud is
saying that sometimes it is necessary to pray for mercy that a sick person
should die. For example, when a sick person is greatly pained and it is
impossible for him to recover as we see in the 12th chapter of the tractate
Kesubos (104A). Since Rebbe’s maidservant saw how many times he
needed to go the bathroom and remove his tefillin, and how pained he
was, she said: “May it be the will [of the Almighty] that the heavenly
ones may overpower the mortals,”that is, [she prayed] that Rebbe should
die. And for this reason we say that one who [actually] visits a sick
person helps him with his prayers even [to the point of] saving his life;
and one who does not visit a sick person, it is not even necessary to say
that he does not help him him to live, but rather even where there would
be benefit [to the patient] in dying, even with that small favor he does not
help him [by visiting so that he can pray for his relief from pain through
death].
3
tku vhjha tk ohnjr uhkg aecn iht
lhrma ohngp e"vs hbhgc vtrb - ,unha
iudf ,unha vkujv kg ohnjr aeck
uk rapt htu vcrv uhkjc vkujv rgymna
(se ,ucu,f) taubv erpc ibhrntsf vhjha
ihbnhz vnf kgs hcrs vh,nt htzjs iuhfs
rgymn teu ihkhp, jbtu txfv ,hck
,t ohbuhkgv upufha iumr hvh vrnt
rnte v"anu hcr ,unhks rnukf ohbu,j,v
,uhjk whpt u,kp,c ukhgun vkuj recnvs
ubhta hnu ,kgun r,uh vkp, thva hbpn
,uhjk ukhgun ubhta rnuk lhrm iht urecn
v,hnc vtbv vhk tfhts tfhv whpt tkt
/uvbvn ubht h,ryuz v,ut whpt
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Praying for the Death of a Patient: A Halachic View - Daniel Eisenberg, MD
t:h ,ufrc ,fxn hkcc sunk,
Talmud Bavli, Tractate Berachos 10A
What did Hashem do? He brought suffering (illness) upon Chizkiyahu, and He
said to Yeshiyahu: "Go and visit the sick one." As it is stated (Kings II 20:1 and
Yeshiyahu 38:1): In those days, Chizkiyahu took deathly ill, and Yeshiyahu son of
Amotz the prophet came to him and said to him: So said Hashem! Instruct your
household, for you are dying, and you will not live.
What is the reason the verse first states: “for you are dying,”and then states “and
you will not live?” “You are dying” refers to this world; “and you will not live”
refers to [death in] the World to Come.
[Chizkiyahu] said to [Yeshiyahu]: What is the reason for all this? [Yeshiyahu]
said to him: It is because you did not engage in [the mitzva of] procreation.
[Chizkiyahu] said to him: That was because I saw with Ruach Hakodesh (Divine
inspiration) that immoral children would come forth from me! [Yeshiyahu] said to
him: What concern are the hidden things of Hashem to you? What you are
commanded to do [by Hashem], you are required to do; and what is good before
Hashem, He will do. So [Chizkiyahu] said to [Yeshiyahu]: Give me your daughter
[as a wife]. Perhaps my merits and yours together will cause decent children to issue
from me! [Yeshiyahu] said to him: The decree [of death] has already been passed
upon you. [Chizkiyahu] said to him: Son of Amotz, end your prophecy and
go! I have received this teaching from the house of my father (King David):
Even if a sharp sword rests upon one’s neck, he should not refrain from
praying for mercy.
kg ohruxh thcv - tuv lurc ausev vag vn
:vkujv ,t recu lk :uvhgahk uk rntu 'uvhezj
ohnhc +j"k uvhgah+ '+wf wc ohfkn+ :rntba
ic uvhgah uhkt tchu ,unk uvhezj vkj ovv
(,utcm) wv rnt vf :uhkt rnthu thcbv .unt
hf htn /wudu vhj, tku v,t ,n hf l,hck um
'vzv okugc - v,t ,n - vhj, tku v,t ,n
hkuf htn :vhk rnt /tcv okugk - vhj, tku
/vhcru vhrpc ,exg tks ouan :vhk rnt ?htv
hepbs asev jurc hk htzjs ouan :vhk rnt
hacf hsvc :vhk rnt /ukgn tks ihbc htbhn
lk hgcht ,sepns htn ?lk vnk tbnjrs
- tuv lhrc tasue vhne tjhbs vnu 'scgnk
rapt 'l,rc hk cv t,av :vhk rnt /shcgk
ihbc htbn hepbu lshsu hshs t,ufz tnrds
rnt /vrhzd lhkg vrzdb rcf :vhk rnt /ukgns
hbkcuen lf !tmu l,tucb vkf '.unt ic :vhk
kg ,jbun vsj crj ukhpt - tct hct ,hcn
/ohnjrv in unmg gbnh kt ost ka urtum
` cenr bk sc ziprz zkqn ilaa cenlz
Talmud Bavli, Taanis 23A
One day [Choni] was travelling on the road and he saw a man planting a carob tree.
He asked him, How long does it take [for the tree] to bear fruit? The man answered:
“Seventy years.”He then asked him: “Are you sure that you will live another seventy
years?” The man answered: I found carob trees [already grown] in the world; as my
forefathers planted these for me, I plant these for my children. Honi sat down to eat
bread and sleep overcame him. As he slept, an outcropping of rock enclosed him and
hid him from sight and he continued to sleep for seventy years. When he awoke he
saw a man gathering the fruit [of the carob tree]. Choni asked him: “Are you the man
who planted [this tree]?” The man answered: “I am his grandson.”Choni said: “It is
apparent that I slept for seventy years.”He then saw his donkey who had given birth
to generations of donkeys. He went to his home. He asked: “Is the son of Choni the
Circle-Drawer still alive? They answered him: “His son is not [alive], but his
grandson is still living.” He said to them: “I am Choni the Circle-Drawer,” but they
did not believe him. He then went to the study hall and there he overheard the
scholars say: “The law is as clear to us as in the days of Choni the Circle-Drawer, for
whenever he came to the study hall, he would resolve for the scholars any difficulty
that they had.”He said to them: “I am he!”But, they did not believe him so they did
not give him the honor he was due. He became very upset and he prayed for
[Divine] mercy and died. Rava said: “This is an example of the popular saying,
‘Either companionship or death.’”
Talmud Bavli, TractateBava Metzia 84A
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish died, and Rabbi Yochanon grieved after him greatly. Said
the Rabbis, 'Who shall go to ease his mind? Let Rabbi Elazar ben Pedas go, for his
scholarship is dazzling.”He went and sat before him. To every statement that Rabbi
Yochanon would say, [Rabbi Elazar ben Pedas] would say: “There is a baraisa which
supports you.” [Rabbi Yochanon] said: “Are you [supposed to be] like the son of
Lakisha (i.e. Reish Lakish)? –with the son of Lakisha, whenever I said something, he
would raise twenty-four objections, to which I gave twenty-four answers, and as a
result [of our exchanges], the matters were clarified. However, you repeatedly say,
"We learn a baraisa which supports you." Do I not already know that my thinking is
correct?” [As a result, Rabbi Yochanon] would go around tearing his
garments and would cry and say: “Where are you, son of Lakisha! Where
are you, son of Lakisha!”and he would scream until he lost his sanity. The
Rabbis prayed for mercy on him, and he died.
Talmud Yerushalmi Tractate Shabbat 19:2 (as per Korban HaEida)
Rabbi Ada bar Ahava had a son born to him who was already circumcised. When they
did the hatafas dam bris (drawing of blood necessary in such cases), the child died.
Rabbi Avin said, rather the child became a pasuah dakah (a form of genital mutilation
that precludes a man from having children and marrying a Jewish woman) and Rabbi
Ada bar Ahava fasted for the [child to die] (since he would not be able to become
part of the congregation of Israel) and he died. The rabbis of Caesaria said the child
became a krus shafcha (another type of genital mutilation that resulted from the
hatafas dam bris) and Rabbi Ada bar Ahava fasted for the child and he died.
4
dedc `xab `eddl diifg ,`gxe`a lf` ded cg `nei
xn` - ?oirh oipy dnk cr ,i`d :dil xn` ,`aexg rhp
ziigc jl `hiyt :dil xn` - .oipy oiray cr :dil
`aexga `nlr [`xab] i`d :dil xn` - ?oipy oiray
inp ilzy - izda` il ilzyc ikid ik ,dizgky`
.mip ,`zpiy dil `z` ,`ztix jixk `w ,aizi .i`xal
.oipy oiray mipe ,`pirn iqki` ,`zipeyn dil `xcd`
.ediipin hwln `w `edc `xab `eddl diifg mw ik
dixa xa :dil xn` - ?dizlzyc `ed z` :dil xn`
`fg .oipy oiray iniipc dpin rny :dil xn` .`p`
,dizial lf` .iknx iknx dil `ciliiz`c dixngl
:dil exn` - ?miiw in lbrnd ipegc dixa :edl xn`
ipeg `p` :edl xn` .`zi` dixa xa ,`zil dixa
edpirny ,yxcnd zial lf` .edepnid `l .lbrnd
,lbrnd ipeg ipyak oizzrny oxidp :ixn`wc opaxl
opaxl edl eedc `iyew lk ,`yxcn zial liir ied ikc
`le ,edepnid `le ,edip `p` :edl xn` .edl wxtn ded
ingx ira ,dizrc ylg ,dil iranck `xwi dil icar
e` `zexag e` :iypi` ixn`c epiid ,`ax xn` .zine
.`zezin
`:ct sc `rivn `aa zkqn ilaa cenlz
iax xrhvn `w dede ,yiwl oa oerny iaxc diytp gp
diazil lifil o`n :opax exn` .`aeh dixza opgei
oiccgnc ,zct oa xfrl` iax lifip - dizrcl
xn` dedc `zlin lk ,dinw aizi lf` .dizzrny
xak z` :xn` .jl `riiqnc `ipz :dil xn` opgei iax
ded - `zlin `pin` ded ik ,`yiwl xa ?`yiwl
dil `piwxtne ,`ziiyew rax`e oixyr il iywn
z`e .`zrny `geex `linne ,iwext drax`e oixyr
xityc `prci `l eh` ,jl riiqnc `ipz zxn`
:xn`e ika `we ,dip`n rxwe lif` `w ded ?`pin`w
`w dede ,`yiwl xa z` `kid ,`yiwl xa z` `kid
gpe dilr ingx opax era .[dipin] dizrc syc cr gev
.diytp
a dkld hi wxt zay zkqn inlyexi cenlz
ek xa cg dil cilizi` dad` xa `c` iax
`kc revt dyrp xn` oia` iax zin dia qinqnin
dkty zexk oixn oixqiwc opax zne eilr dprzpe
.zne dprzpe dyrp
www.jewishmedicalethics.com
Praying for the Death of a Patient: A Halachic View - Daniel Eisenberg, MD
Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah, Chapter 339-Laws of a Moribund Patient
1. The moribund patient is considered alive in all respects. We may not tie up his
jaws, nor may we anoint him with oil, nor wash him, nor stop up his organs. We may
not remove the pillow from under him, nor place him on sand, clay-ground, or earth, nor
may we place on his stomach a dish, shovel, a flask of water or a globule of salt. We
may not summon the towns on his behalf, nor may we hire pipers and lamenting women,
nor may we close his eyes before his soul departs. And whoever closes the eyes of a
dying patient (goses) before death is considered a shedder of blood. One may not rend
garments, nor bear the shoulder in mourning, nor make a lamentation for him, nor bring
a coffin into the house in his presence before he dies, nor may we begin the recital of
‘righteous is the judgement’before his soul departs. . . .It is similarly forbidden to
hasten the death of a deathly ill patient. For example, for someone who is moribund
for a long time and is unable to depart, it is forbidden to to remove the pillow or the
mattress from under him [just] because some say that there are feathers from some fowl
that cause this [prolongation of life]. Likewise, he may not be moved from his place. It
is also forbidden to place the synagogue keys under his head in order that he may
depart. However, if there is something that causes a hindrance to the departure of the
soul, for example, close to that house is a knocking sound such as a woodcutter, or
there is salt on his tongue, and these hinder the departure of his soul, it is permitted to
remove it, for there is no direct act involved, since he merely removes an impediment
to death.”
yka inhx vgs vruh lurg ijkua
iht /uhrcs kfk hjf tuv hrv 'xxudv
:t ;hgx
ihtu 'u,ut ihjhsn ihtu 'u,ut ihfx ihtu 'uhhjk ihraue
ihtu 'uh,j,n rfv ihynua ihtu 'uhceb ,t iheeup
kg tku ,hxrj hcd kg tku 'kuj hcd kg u,ut ihb,ub
tku vrge tk uxhrf kg ihb,ub ihtu 'vnst hcd
ihtu 'jkn ka rhdrd tku ohn ka ,hjukm tku vphrdn
',ubbuenu ihkhkj ihrfua ihtu ',urhhg uhkg ihghnan
og .ngnv kfu /uapb tm,a sg uhbhg ihmngn ihtu
ihmkuj tku ihgrue ihtu /ohns lpua z"v 'apbv ,thmh
sg ',hck iurt ung ihxhbfn tku 'uhkg ihshpxn tku
/uapb tm,a sg 'ihsv eusmc uhkg ihj,up ihtu /,unha
',hcc ung ubhta p"gt rce uk ihcmuj ihts t"hu :vdv
oua cumjk ruxt /(s"he inhx a"chr) ,unha rjt sg
,nv uc urceh tka rjnk sg ju,p ,uhvk rce
h"rv oac ojurh ubhcr) rcsc vbfx ahu 'ouhv u,utc
iudf 'vrvn ,unha ,nk ourdk ruxt ifu /(k"z shxjv
ruxt 'srpvk kfuh tku lurt inz xxud tuva hn
aha ihrnuta jfn 'uh,j,n ,xfvu rfv ynavk
/unuenn ubzhzh tk ifu vz ohnruda ,upug ,men ,umub
/srpha hsf 'uatr ,j, v"c ,uj,pn ouak ruxt ifu
iudf 'apbv ,thmh cufg oruda rcs oa ah ot kct
ut ohmg cyuj iudf epus kue ,hc u,utk lunx aha
Aruch Hashulchan Yoreh Deah 335 (Laws of Bikur Cholim)
r,un 'apbv ,thmh ohcfgn uktu ubuak kg jkn aha
3. The essential part of the mitzvah of bikur cholim is to look into the needs of the ill rhxna tkt 'kkf vagn vzc ihts 'oan urhxvk
person and to do for him what he requires, as is written in Nedarim 40a: A student
/(ihjkdn ukt erp hxpkt ,vdvc kfv) gbunv
of Rabbi Akiva was ill, but none of the Rabbis visited him. Rabbi Akiva entered [the
student’s room] to visit, and because he cleaned and swept, the student lived. [The
student] said: “Rebbe, you have caused me to live.” Rabbi Akiva went out [to the study
hall] and announced: “Anyone who does not visit the sick- it is as if he spills blood.”
And how bea utifu l it is that in ma ny cities , gr ou ps of peop le called
chevros linah stay with the sick all night land attend to their needs. Because
during the day, in most situations, most of the sick person’s needs are met by
their relatives, but at night, due to exhaustion from working all day, they cannot
help but fall asleep. Therefore, very, very great is the reward for these chevros linah.
And the Sages said, "Whomever visits the sick will be saved from Gehinom. And what
is his reward in this world? Hashem will protect him from his yetzer hara (evil
inclination) and mitigate his suffering, and he will be happy in the land because
everyone will honor him. . ." (see there). And anyone who visits the sick enables him
to live because he prays for him to live. And anyone who does not visit a sick
person does not ask for mercy for him, neither that he should live nor that he
should die - because sometimes one should ask for mercy for that he should die, for
example, if he suffers greatly from his illness and it is impossible, for him to
recover, as was the case of Rebbi in Perek Hanosei (see the Ran, Kesubos 104A).
dly oniq drc dxei ogleyd jexr
dlegd ikxva oiirl `ed mileg xewia zevn xwir b sirq
dyrn [` 'n] mixcpa `zi`ck jixvy dn el zeyrle
exwal r"x qpkpe 'eke dlgy r"x icinlzn cg` cinlza
r"x `vi ipziigd iax l"` dig eiptl uaixe caiky liayae
dne minc jtey el`k milegd z` xwan epi`y lk yxce
lv` miply dpil dxag mi`xwpd mixr dnka zexagd eti
t"r meiac mikixv mdy dn ze`xl dlild lk milegd
ezia iyp`c dlila k"`yn ezia iyp` el miynyn aex
lecb ok lr qpe`a dpiya mirwype meid zcearn milnr
lk [my] l"fg exn`e dpil ixag ly c`n c`n mxky
exky dne mpidb ly dpicn levp dlegd z` xwand
xye`ie oixeqid on ediigie x"dvin edxnyi 'c f"dera
z` xwand lke y"r 'eke ea micakzn lkd ediy ux`a
epi`y lke digiy eilr lltzny digiy el mxeb dlegd
zeniy `le digiy `l mingx eilr ywan oi` xwan
mixeqi el yiy oebk zeniy mingx ywal yi minrtlc
Igros Moshe, Choshen Mishpat II:74D
`yepd 't iaxc dyrnk digiy el xyt` i`e eilga daxd
Regarding the issue of praying that a sick person should die.
:[my o"x]
You asked for me to further clarify my proof from the maidservant of Rebbe (Rabbi
Yehuda HaNasi) regarding allowing the cessation of prayer [for a terminally ill suffering
person], as the Ran mentions in his ruling on withholding treatment [in such a case].
Certainly a strong proof can be brought from the example of Rebbe's handmaiden, for
we see that her prayers were accepted and superior to the prayers of the Torah scholars
whose pleas were not answered (i.e. they prayed for his recovery, but he remained in his
suffering state). But [it is only] for a man like Rav Chanina Ben Dosa and those of
similar stature, whose prayers are accepted (i.e. who can recognize if his prayers have
been accepted), to carry out the Ran's ruling. For if he sees that his prayers are not
accepted (ineffective), then he knows that the patient cannot continue to live (i.e. his
prayers for recovery are futile). At this point, such people must pray for the patient's
death to ease the sick man's suffering. As Ran writes (Nedarim 40A), sometimes it is
necessary to pray [for mercy] that a sick person should die when it is for the sick
person’s own good. This is the case only when it is clear that the rabbis' prayers are not
being accepted. But this situation is not applicable to our generations, even regarding
the prayers of Torah greats, unless perhaps there are specific individuals unknown to us
[to whom this standard applies]. And if such [unique individuals exist], they should
conduct themselves like the ruling of the Ran who holds like Rav Dimi and rules
that there are times when one should pray [that the sick person] die, as in the case
of Rebbe's handmaiden.
But this [discussion] only refers to prayer [for the death of the suffering individual]
and not to shortening life by action. For that is forbidden even when it is for the
benefit of the one killed and [the perpetrator] is subject to death by the sword like
any murderer whose motivation to commit this evil murder is hatred or anger.
sg inhx wc n“j ekj van ,urdt ,"ua
/,unha vkujv kg vkhp, ihbgc /s
vh,ntn vhtrv r,uh rtck aha v"r,f rhgv odu
vnk rhfzv i"rva ihgfu vkhp,n vghbn ihbgc hcrs
htsucu 'vtupr i,hkn vghbn ihbgk vzn ubrfzva
v,kp, v,hva iuhf hcrs vh,ntn thv vkusd vhtr
,kce rurc tka vru, hkusdn ;hsgu ,kcuen
i,kp,a vnusfu txus ic j"rf habhtku 'i,kp,
,kcuen u,kp, iht ota i"rv expf uagh ,kcuen
ukt ihfhrm zta ,uhjk cua uk t"ta uvk gush
c,fsf v,hnk ihruxh vkujvk ahaf kkp,vk habht
cuy tuvaf ,unha kkp,vk lhrm ohngpa i"rv
,ukp, ukce,b tka tbuud htvfc er tuvu vkujvk
hkusdk ukhpt vz lhha tk ubh,urus habtka ibcrs
otu /ovn ubk gush tka ohshjhk hkut tkt vru,
hnhs crf tuva i"rv expf ,uagk ovk ah obah
tscugf ,unha kkp,vk ohngpk aha exps
rmek tku vkp,c er tuv kct /hcrs vh,nts
ka u,cuy tuvaf ukhpt ruxt vza vagnc ohnh
xgfu vtban jmurf ;hhx ,,hn chhju 'jmrbv
/vgrk vjhmr ,buufk
Praying for the Death of a Patient: A Halachic View - Daniel Eisenberg, MD
dg inhx wc n“j ekj van ,urdt ,"ua
Igros Moshe, Choshen Mishpat II:73A*
Are there patients who should not be treated so as to prolong their lives for a
little while?
This question obviously refers to a terminally ill patient who can live for
only several weeks or months, at most. Such patients often should not be
treated. The key concern is their quality of life. In cases of intractable pain, we
have clear instructions from the account of the death of Rebbe, the compiler of
the Mishnah, in Talmud Kesubos 104 [a]. The Talmud describes how his
students prayed that he would remain alive. His maidservant, seeing the great
suffering he was enduring, prayed that the angels above would meet with success
[in their prayers for Rebbe's soul to return to Heaven, [so that the rabbis' prayers
for his continued life] would not be accepted. In order to disrupt the rabbis'
prayer service, the maidservant knocked down a large urn. This distracted the
students, [who momentarily ceased their prayers], and as a result Rebbe was able
to die.
The maidservant was a wise woman, learned in the ways of Torah. As
recorded elsewhere, [Rebbe's] students learned many things from her, and
for this reason the Talmud records that her actions were right and proper.
Nedarim 40 [a] relates an incident involving the students of Rebbe Akiva. They
had neglected to visit one of their colleagues who was ill, and when Rebbe Akiva
entered the study hall, he criticized them for this. His rebuke, as understood by
the Ran [in his commentary on the Talmud], consisted of the following: "It is
sometimes proper to pray to Hashem for the death of a critically ill person, if he
is suffering greatly and his condition is really terminal; in short, if there is no
rational hope that he will recover."
The Ran concludes that Rebbe Akiva's rebuke of his students was essentially
as follows: "Why didn't you visit your sick colleague? You could have helped
him or prayed for his recovery. If you were convinced that there was no hope of
a recovery, you could at least have prayed for him to die quickly. Even that little
help you withheld from him! The Ran cites the Gemora in Kesubos, referred to
above, as proof that this is, indeed, the proper response for those who want to do
the mitzvah of visiting the sick. We see that the Ran assumes that the
maidservant's opinion is recorded as the final halachah.
Therefore, if a patient is terminally ill and in intractable pain, so that there
is no hope of his surviving in a condition free of pain, but it is possible,
through medical or technological methods, to prolong his life, then it is
improper to do so. Rather, the patient should be made as comfortable as
possible, and left without any further intervention. I must emphasize that it
is absolutely forbidden to do anything or to provide any drug that will
shorten the patient's life for even a moment. To do so would be an act of
murder. [Physician assisted suicide is halachically murder, even though the
intent is to shorten the patient's life for reasons of euthanasia.]
,frtvk ,upur, ovk i,hk ihta ohkuj ah ot /t
/ovhhj
i,hk ihta uktf ohkuj ohabt ah ot rcsc vbv
'r,uh ,me ovhhj lhrtvk ,utupr hbhn vzht ovk
u,rhyps tscugc s"e ;s ahr ,ucu,fc arupn vbv
,unh tka o,kp, vkhguvu hnjr ibcr ugcs hcr ka
rgymnea hcrs vh,nt v,trafu tpr,ha tk kct
ohbu,j,v ,t ohbuhkg upufha iumr hvh vrnt tcuy
thsa tzuf vkea 'hnjr hgchnkn ibcr he,a uuv tku
'hcrs vhapb jbu hnjrn heh,aht tgrtk trdhtn
lhrma ohngpk tfhta ibhgunatk wndv vz yebu
hbhn ihkhgun ihtu rgymnaf ostv kg kkp,vk
'ukce,b tk tpr,ha ,ukp,vu 'u,utprk ,utupr
v,hv hcrs vh,nt hf ',unha uhkg kkp,vk lhrma
'ohngpk ibcr vbnn ihsnk uhvu vru,v hbhsc vnfj
tv wndv arpns tv kg wn ;s ahr ohrsb i"rc ihhgu
aecn iht vkuj recn ubhta kf rnt tuvs hnhs wrs
ohngp e"vs c,f ',unha tku vhjha tk ohnjr uhkg
rgymna iudf ,unha vkujv kg ohnjr aeck lhrma
erpc ibhrntsf 'vhjha uk t"tu vcrv uhkjc vkujv
vrnt rgymn tes hcrs vh,nt htzjs iuhfs taubv
,unhks rnukf ohbu,j,v ,t ohbuhkgv upufha r"vh
vhjha uk orud vkujv ,t recnvs rnte v"anu 'hcr
ohkujv curc uvza ,uhjk ukhpt u,kp,c khguna ubhhv
hnu 'ohngp tcurs tcurc kkp,vk recnv lhrma uvzu
ukhpt tkt ,uhjk ukhgun ubhta k"mt recn ubhta
h,ryuz v,ut ukhpt v,hnc vtbv vhk tfhts tfhv
vkkp,vs tv tbhsk thcn i"rvs hrv 'vbvn ubht
tcuy hcrs vhrgm v,traf ;uxck hcrs vh,nt
tk ;tu hrndk u,utprk ,ukce,n tk ibcrs ,ukp,u
arpnu 'uhruxhc tuva unf vhjha tkt uhruxh kevk
,unha kkp,vk recnv lhrm ohngpka hnhs wrsc od
habhtcu 'ihruxh uk ahu vhjha vkujvk t"ta ihturaf
',uhjku ,utpr,vk uk t"ta ihrhfn ohtpurva d"vf
kct hruxh tkc vkuj tuva unf vhjha tk ;tu
tuva unf uhnh lhrtvk vtupr hnx uk i,hk rapt
tkt ,utupr hbhn uk i,hk iht 'ihruxhc v,g tmnb
,unha vtupr hnx ovk i,hk hf 'ova unf oujhbh
gdrk ukhpt rmek ourdha vkugp vzht ,uagk ifu z"hg
ktu cac uhvha tkt 'ohns lpua ,uchajc tuv ,jt
tku ihruxhv ukheha tprn hnx tfht ot kct 'vag,
/xxud ubht ihhsgaf ,uagk lhrm uhhjn gdr ;t urmeh
Translated and annotated by Rabbi Moshe Dovid Tendler
*taken from: Responsa of Rav Moshe Feinstein: Care of the Critically Ill, Vol. 1
`v oniq ` wlg dnly zgpn z"ey
qqeb dlega letihde - okeqn dlegl gezip xaca .ck
`c oebka ,zi`ce dlvdd oi` dfl sqep mbe ,diig ini lkl zwzeyn e"g x`yiz `id gezipd ici lry oeikc c"prlp ,ezinr za ziplegd dclid xac lr
.dlitdl `l mc` ciae eingx miax ik 'c ingx lr orydle dyrz l`e aya x`ydl ahen
ly mbe dlegd ly laqd gk c`n dywe eply miheytd mibyend itl miig llk mpi` r"l miwzeyn ly miigdy b"r`c xexae heyt mpn` od
mbe ezlvda fxcfdl i`ce miaiig dleg `ed m`e ,miwzeyn ly mdiig zkx`dl dyre mewa lczydl miaiig mbe mieevn eppd z`f lk mr ,ezgtyn
zayd z` oillgn ixdy ,zeevne dxeza `l elit` mzeaiyge mxwei z` cecnl dnk dcin - dpw mey epl oi` "miig" ly oiprd ik ,zayd z` eilr llgl
lehia mdl mxebe ezgtyn lr lecb laqe `ynl wx md eiige devn mey zeyrl leki epi`e ,xenb dheye yxg `edy t"r` oigy dken dleg owf lr mb
.zayd z` eilr llgle ezlvda weqrle lczydl l`xyi ilecba devn ikd elit` ,ilclcne ilf` md ixd lecbd mxrvl sqepe ,zeevne dxez
`aede `"r 'n sc mixcpa o"xd y"enke ,zeniy eilr ywal devn dkldd cvny dfk ote`a daxd xrhvn dlegd m` elit`y c"prlp dfn xzei cere
.minrt dnk elit` zayd z` eilr llgle ezlvda wqrzdl `ed aiig k"b zeni dlegdy 'cl lltzne ywany dry dze`a mb n"n ,miwqeta mb
x`yi `ede eyekx lk eipir cbpl ztxeye zlke` y`dy ji` d`exe cner `ede sxype e"g jled eyekx lke xyer iiga libx `edy blten xiyr df znerle
'd epxnyie] .mdixacn wx exeqi`e =dtebl dkixv dpi`y dk`ln= b"lv`yln l"ed zaya ieakc b"r` xeq` zeakl wx mb d"it` ,migztd lr xfgnd ipr
.[dfk oeiqpn eingx aexa
zeyrl oiaiig oi`y xazqn `c oebka okl ,miigdn zend mdl aeh xy` yi mbe ,mixne mirx md miwzeynd ly miigd q"eqe li`ed n"n la`
.wtq `l` epi` dlvdd mvr mby ocic oecipa hxtae ,dyre mewa gezp ly dyrn
`ed ik df lr dlegd z` gixkdl miaiig jk dry iig xear zay millgny mykc mixaeq yi ,qqeb dlega letih ly ef dl`ya mihalzn miax
ovnge lke`y ipayeg ,ce`n wfg ytp laq elit` e` milecb mixeqie mia`kn laeq dlegd m`y xazqn j` ,zg` rbx lr s` xzeel envr lr milra epi`
dtxhp `le miny `xi dlegd m` mle` .df z` yxec dlegd m` dlegl laq zenxebd zetexzn rpndl xzen la` ,epevx cbp mb el ozil miaiig dniypl
zenl xy`n mipy 'f leaql "zekf" dfy '` 'k sc dheq 'ba epivncke ,`ad mlerd iig lkn f"dera daeyza zg` dry dtiy el xiaqdl ce`n ievx ezrc
.cin
.minid lk al aehae dgnya ecarl epkfie jaxwn dlgn lk izexiqde epa miiewie rx lkn epxnyi aehd 'ce
6
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Praying for the Death of a Patient: A Halachic View - Daniel Eisenberg, MD
d wxt lgx znx - d wlg xfril` uiv z"ey
ywan oi` xwan epi`y lke digiy el mxeb dlegd z` xwand lke :my zeniy eixeqia lztzne `ixaiy miekiq oi`y dleg lr lltzdl xzen m`
't iaxc dyrnk digiy el xyt` i`e eilga daxd mixeqi el yiy oebk zeniy mingx ywal yi minrtlc zeniy `le digiy `l mingx eilr
.`yepd
`l mingx eilr ywan oi` dleg xwan oi`y lkc my 'nbd ixac zpeeka ok x`any `"r 'n 'c mixcpa o"xd mya y"dexrd `ian dl` mixac
elit` dzina d`pd dil `ki`c `kid 'it` `l` zeigl eliren epi`y xnel jixv oi` exwan epi`y ine df oeyla o"xd miiqne ,zeniy `le digiy
`qkd zial `pnif dnk lrc iaxc dizn` i`fgc oeikc my `zi`c `dn `edc o"xd azek `yepd 'tc `iddn di`xde ,edpdn epi` izxhef dze`
.iax zenilc xnelk ,mipezgzd z` mipeilrd etekiy oevx 'idi dxn` xrhvn `we oilitz gp`e
eilr lltzdl xzen `di eixeqia lztzne dpnn qepn el oi`y dyep` ezlgny dleg lry `zxiab `zkld mdn epl `veiy dl` o"x ixac dpde (`)
c"t) zea`a `pzd ixacke ,ig `ed egxk lrayk mb minlrpe miielb mipey mipewiza ftn mixwid f"dera yep` iig irbx lr aeygl ilan ,zeniy
miitebd eixeqin dlegd ly zel`bzdd df avna sicrdl `l` .`ad mlerd iig lkn dfd mlera miaeh miyrne daeyza zg` dry dti :(f"in
dlert mey e"g dyer epi` `ede epnn eznyp xak gwiy 'dl lltzn wx ixdy oeikn .dzinl - miigne oi`dl yidn iteb xarn i"r ele ,mi`xepd
.dklda recik .aygi gvexk ixd ok dyery ine ,eppgaz mirbxle dgeha ezziny qqeba elit` xeq` dfy dzind aexiwl zilily e` ziaeig
zeipynd lr i"`tza xkfpy izi`xy z`f caln] eilk i`yepe r"eya `le eilk i`yepe xeha `l e`aed `l ,dkldl odn `veide o"xd ly dl` mixac
cg` s` edeyxit `ly xac `ede ,zycegn dkld mb epnn z`veie ycegn yexit dfy oeikn dkldn edegc d`xpd itke [my freaa f"n `neic g"t
.y"r ok d`xp oi`c 'nbd ixaca o"xd ly eyexit mvr lr mb dywny my mixcp `"yxdna oiir ok .my mixcpa 'nbd zibeqa ecrla mipey`xd on
dxn`e iaxc dixrvn xexa ic opaxl dfnx iaxc dizn`y ixg` mby zxtqn my 'nbd daxc` ixd ,zeaezka iaxc dyrnn di`xd mb oiadl yie
mixeqia lztzn dlegdyk mby jtidl di`x opaxn ixd k"`e ,ingx irainln opax iwzy eed `l z`f lka ,mipezgzl mipeilr etekiy oevx idi
lltzdl xeq`y y"kne ,xac epnn `lti `l xy` miny ingx dlegd lr ywaln wiqtdl oi` z`f lka rahd jxca d`etxl dpwz oi`e mi`xep
did opax ewzyi`y df ,iaxc diytp gpe ingxn ewzyi` `rx`l `xbi`n `iicy `fek dlwy ixac dizn`c my 'nba `zi`c dfe ,zeniy jetidla
t"kr aheny dhlgd icil eribdy iptn `l la` ,my zvaewn dhiya x`eanck `rx`l `xbi`n me`zt mdl jlyedy xacdn eldapy zngn df
dl`y xn`py `l m` .opax eyry dn lr ziknq ,iaxc dizn` dzyry dn lr ziknqc zifg i`n k"`e .wezyile z"`e aya zeidl
dzyry dn `inec ,zeniy dfk ihixw avna lltzdl mdl xzen dlegd icinlz mpi`y mixg`c epiide ,miig miwl` ixac dl`e
eyry dn `inec mingx zywaa jiyndl mdilr ,eceaika mievnd dlegd ipa dfl dneca d"de ,dlegd icinlze ,iaxc dizn`
.ingx irainln iwzy eed `lc opax
edeciqtd `le owzl xak jixv didy dn lk enlera owize xnbene mlyen did ezyecw aexny ip`y yecwd epiaxc xnele oerhl yi z`f cere
zxew ly zg` dry xak el aeh f`e zenc` ilr mc`d zilkz edfy eytp xak milydy geha didy oeikn ezzinl mingxd zywaa llk xak
.eytp xak milydy llk oegha mey oi`y mc` lk x`ya k"`yne ,epal ez`eva m"anxd ixac jk lr mqxetnk ,f"der iig lkn a"dera gex
e` `xaq i"tr mipey`x ixac xezql llka oi` recikc o"xd epiax ixac xezql e"g `eal edyna 'it` dcnd on mda oi` l"pd ixaca ik oaen
wefiga `eal mewn xak yi if`c miwqetd ilecbe mipey`xd xzi zrc ok oi`y dxe`kl d`xpy dn lr `ae xirnk wx e`a mixacde ,`iyew
. . .miwqetd xzi zrc xaqde
mixengk epgp` exn` m`y iaxc dizn` ip`yc jd gkn iaxc dizn`c `iddn miaexwl xizd `ly epecip z` wlgl jxvedy dnl oecl yi ok (f)
lra lr xaecndy epecipa k"`yne ,iaxl daxew dl did `l myc iptn d"`la dil wetiz ,iaxc dizn`k epgp` oi`c l"i `ln dta i`cea 'eke
mbc iptn df weligl jxved al iwwg lrady xnele uxzl yi dfly `l` .l"pd eiwenipe einrhn zenzy lltzdl mdl xizdl oi` okle mipae
mb `edy feg` dfi`a dzltz d`a ile`y dyygd dlv` mb k"` epyie eze` dyny ixdy df llba xaca zrbep ly xcba dzid diaxc dizn`
epzlkia oi`e ,iaxc dizn` ip`yc l"pd eweligl al iwwg lrad jxved jk meyne ,oir zi`xn meyn t"kre ,dzetiire dzgxihn lvpzy icka
.l"pd zeyygd gkn zeniy dlegd lr lltzdl `edy ote` lka mdl xeq` dlegd iynyn mby dkldl cnlp jk jezne .dil` zencdl
z`f lka xizd `l ,o"xd c"r xizdl jxcy icigid `edy dncpy al iwwg lrad mby epi`x ep`vn ,y"dexra xen`d c"r eppiprl rbepa m"kr (ai)
,lirl ehxety mi`pzd lk ielin ixg`e ,dlegl aiaqn `gxihe `cxih meye daxew mey mdl oi`y mixg`l m` ik zeniy lltzdl
yi dl` lkle ,dlegd ly ezlgnl aiaqn dcxhd dfi` mdl yiy dl` lkl `le miaexwl `le mipal `le lral `l xizd `l la`
mewn c"prtl yi df lr sqene ,dyri eipira aehd 'ce df cvl `le df cvl `l lltzdl `l ,dyrz l`e aya zeidl xzeid lkl mdl
`le xeha `l df ceqin dkldl xkfeny epivn `l xen`k xy` ,mixg`l mb dfk xzid ceqi mvra mb lirl epxrd xy` lkk oeir
.mdilk i`yepe r"eya
bi wxt awri oa` 'pew - hn oniq f wlg xfril` uiv z"ey
.jtidl oke mixkf ixg` my zeawpl zzl yi m` .'a .eixeqia lztzny dleg zzinl lltzdl xzen m` '` bi wxt
xak dpd .eixeqia lztzne `ixaiy miiekiq oi`e `aeh `nlr dil siwzc dleg zzin aexiwl lltzdl xzen m` zece` lr (`)
miaexwd mipad lrad jka mixeq`y cgeinae ,z`f zeyrn repnl yiy izlrde 'd 'iq lgx znx ixtqa dagxda jk lr izx`ia
.y"erik dlegd ly ezlgnl aiaqn dcxhd mdl yiy dl` lke
daxd xrhvny dleg :l"fe azeke ,`xeqi`l k"b dfa dlrdy f"wq 'g ze` c"eiga (al aicp lradn) al ixyi xtqa mb iz`vny dnl siqe` dfae
dxe`kl ,zeniy eilr lltzdl xzen i` ,xrv iig eiign ezen aehe a`ki eilr exya j` zeaicne mipir zelkn zeaxe zerx zexv edetiwd xy`
edenk xenb wicvc mbe ,ezzin miakrne iax z` miywan mipezgzc mzd ip`yc l"ie ,xzeny `"r c"w `yepd wxt iaxc `zn`c `iddn d`xp
ztqep `zriiq ixd ,y"iir l"kr `pngxc iyak icda zybl eal lr axri df in `nlrc yipi`a la` ,zeny` zxtkl k"k mixeqil jixv did `l
.my ixtqa ixacl
7
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Praying for the Death of a Patient: A Halachic View - Daniel Eisenberg, MD
fn oniq h wlg xfril` uiv z"ey
oe`bd axd k"rnl .`"aaez w"dir milyexi .e"kyz `"pn g"x .d"a .`ixaiy miiekiq oi`e eixeqia lztznd dleg ly ezzinl lltzdl xzen m`
.ceake dad`a d"xzkycg` xteq mzg bege ryedi oa` zpeky ax .`"hily oiihycl`b aec xkyyi x"xden 'eke d"req a"eg mqxetnde llednd
r"l mixeqia lztznd dleg ly ezzin lr lltzdl xzen m` zece` lr 'd oniq lgx znx ixtqa ixac lr zexrd eae xwid eazkn izlaw lenz
.al zneyza eixac lr izxar .`ixaiy miekiq oi`e
zvw el siqe`e .zeniy eilr lltzdl xzen `diy xnel dklda eixacl mewn yi ile`y okziy oey`x oeira izaygy cib` zn`d dpde (`)
k"b `iany my ixtqa eizpiivy] my i"`tzd ixac lr zehiyta azeky ,`neic g"ta i"`tzd lr awri zx`tz zedbda izi`xy dnn mb `zriiq
edil` iab epivnck epnn eytp z` gwil lltzdl el xzen envra `edy myk .zenilc dil `gipc icdq op`e `aeh xrhvnac [mixcpa o"xd ixac
.[y"r my ixtqa dfn izazk ,a"r c"q n"an 'i`xk my oiivny dne] y"r eilr ywal xzen exiagl mb k"` dpeie
iptn miaexw x`yle dlral z`fka xizdl la` qqdny azeke dceny eazkna d"xzk ixac seqa dfa qtz`e icnr ok `l oeird xg`l mle` (a)
,q"ya dfa yxetn xzid miaexw mpi`y mixg`l mb epivn `l c"prtly ,xne`e drixid z` aigxn ip` f"re .q"ya dfa xzid yxetn epivn `ly
x"zk r"` cinrny itke `qib jci`l mb oecl mewn did eli` elit`e my ixtqa dagxda izgkedke jkl zyxetn 'i`x lk oi` zeaezkc `iddne
x"zk mb ixd dfl xywae ,dfa mixcpa o"xd ixac wx epl x`ype .xeqi`l weqtl yi dgked oi`ae ,`kilc i`cea jkl zyxetn dgked la` ,eixaca
`zkld zilc dgked yi my ixtqa izazky itke ,ok eyxit `l mipey`xd lke .my 'nbd ixac zpeek xe`iaa lecb yecig dnd eixacy dcen
.ok xnel eixaca x"zk fnxny itk dfa o"xd ixac e`x `l mleky xnel c`n wegc dfe .r"eya `le i"ae xeha `l eixacn xkfed `lcn dizeek
myxcn zia sqe`a epexkf `a `l ok lre dizeek `zkld zily exaqe dgcp el `xwc iptn exikfdl oekpl e`vn `l wxe ede`xy xexad i`ceae
.izkldd
eilr sewza rbx dfk dlegy lilra mrt `l mi`ex ep` digd ze`ivndn mb ,my ixtqa mdilr izfnxy mixzqpde mielbd miwenipdn uege (b)
dnecke daeyza xdxdn ,miigl oevx riane mzeg xnegk jtdzn zvwna epnn mitxn mixeqide dn onf xearke ,zenl eytp dlgn r"l mixeqid
jk lr lltzpy rbx eze`ay okzi mbe ,zeniy eilr lltzdl epytpa miyl lkep ji` k"`e ,=dnily d`etxl= y"etxl eikxan z`xwl on` dpere
dl`k miig zkx`dl zeilebq zeilrez ziiyrn =dyrz l`e ay= z"`ey wx zeidl witqn k"re .xeqi`a xak lwzip f`e miiga epevx envra `ed
xzei izpwfd iax dil dxn` `ztlg oa iqei iax iptl z`ae daxd dpiwfdy zg` dy`a dyrn :xteqny `"rzz fnx awr 't y"ewlia epivncke
,mei lka zeyrl dcenl z` devn dn l"` ,mlerd on xhtdl zywan ip`e dwyn `le lk`n `l znreh ipi`y md leeip ly miig eiykrne i`cn
,df xg` df mini dyly zqpkd zian jnvr irpn l"` ,mei lka zqpkd zial znkyne eze` zgpn ip` aiag xac il yi elit` ip` dcenl l"`
c"eia cer oiire .y"iir miig `vn i`ven ik eixg` aizk dn 'ebe il rney mc` ixy` dnly xn` jkl ,dzne dzlg iyilyd meiae ok dzyre dkld
l`yin `ippgl ecbp `lnli`e zenl eytp l`eye 'cl dxn wref ok lre exrv zrya qtzp mc` oi`e .ip`y envra dlegde ,y"r '` 'irq h"ly 'iq
.y"iir dzzin f"ir axwl dl uri `ztlg oa i"xy ji` z`f lr mb aeyi `evnl dywzd zqpkd zia spr zeitlz yxcnae .'ebe dixfre
zkx`dc epivn z`f mbe ,oiwxnn oixeqic opixn`ck ,z`f epivn dlbpd t"r mb m` ik (eixaca x"zk epeyla `hazny itk) xzqpd t"r wx `le (c)
zclei dpi`e mixx`nd mina dlez zekfd xne` iaxc oizipzna a"r a"k 'c dheqa `zi`cke ,zekf cer `ed ea mikexk mixeqiy mbd f"dera miig
t"r` z"z zekf dl yiy dheqc ,k"d dheq 'dn b"ta m"anxd wqt jke ,dzin dze`a dzn `id seql zklede dpeepzn `l` zgayn dpi`e
itl 'b e` 'a e` dpy xg` zenzy cr dilr oi`a micak mi`lge zklede zwenip `l` dzryl dzn dpi`e dl dlez f"d z"z lr deevn dpi`y
diige dpepzny t"r`e `id daeh zcn efy xen`d oicdn h"n dheqc `"ta h"eizd giked `icdae .mixa` zlitpae oha ziiava dzn `ide dzekf
.y"iir df dl dnxb zekf d"t` od xrv iig
w"ay meia `aeh `nlr eilr sewziy dxwiyk l"x mixeqig aexn zenl eytp z` l`eye miig mpi` eiigy df dleg .x"zk z` dl`y` z`f cere (d)
jk ixde ?dfn zegt elit` e` zery dnkl elit` ele ely mixnd iigl digzl eaiydl ick lkepy dn lka zayd z` eilr llgl xizp `l m`d
zeigl leki epi`y uvexn ede`vn elit`c 'b sirq h"ky oniq g"e` r"eyae g"id zayn a"t m"anxae d"t b"t 'c `nei 'nba `id dweqt dkld
eze` oi`ivene eilr oigwtn `ixaiy xyt` i`e uvexzpy t"r` :oeyla azeke yibcn my m"anxde ,ok xear zayd z` eilr oillgn dry itl `l`
wrvi envra dlegd m` elit` ok `ede heyt `ed dfd oicde ?md mixeqi mi`ln `l el ekix`iy dl`d dryd iig m`de .y"iir dry dze` iigl
miaygpy jk ick cr md mixwi r"l dl`k mixn miig mby zkzeg di`x df lkn ixd k"`e .zend il xgap ik dxfr mey il eyibz l`e il egipd
rixkdle `eal `eti` lkep ji`e ,dl`k miig zkx`d xear zayd z` millgn mbe ezeiga jix`n `l` cin zn `ly dfd mc`l zekfk dklda
. . . ?dl` miig zxvwdl lltzdl xzeny zeiybx xzeia dndy zexaq t"r
8
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Praying for the Death of a Patient: A Halachic View - Daniel Eisenberg, MD
eilr oilltzn cvike oixwan mileg dfi`e dlegd oixwan izn d:dly oniq ,mdxa` znyp
d`xp :l"fe ,zeniy `le digiy `l mingx eilr ywan oi` dleg xwan oi`y lk ,inic ax xn`y dn lr 96 o"xd azek .zeniy dleg lr dltz
`yepd wxta opixn`ck digiy el xyt` i`e daxd eilga dlegd xrhvny oebk zeniy dlegd lr mingx ywal jixvy minrt w"dc ipira
eliren dleg xwandc xn`w d"yne iax zenilc xnelk ,mipezgzd z` mipeilrd etekiy oevx idi dxn` ,'eke iaxc dizn` i`fgc oeikc 97
dil `ki`c `kid elit` `l` zeigl eliren epi`y xnel jixv oi` exwan epi`y ine zlren xzei dltz `idy iptn zeigl elit` ezltza
dad` xa `c` 'x :99 inlyexia oiire .98 dklda mipiievn mixrya eixac e`aede .l"kr ,edpdn epi` izxhef dze` elit` ,dzina d`pd
eilr `c` ax dprzpe my dcrd oaxwd azeke .zne eilr dprzpe `kc revt dyrp xn` oia` 'x .zin ,dia qinqnin ,ia xa cg dil cilizi`
xrhvnc `kid zeniy lltzdl xzenc dleg lka l"iiw ikde :eazeka o"xdk 100 i"`tzd wqet oke .ldwa `al leqty oeik zeniy ick
mb k"` ,dpeie edil` iab epivnck epnn eytp z` gwil lltzdl el xzen envra `edy myky :azeky awri zx`tza my oiire .l"kr ,`aeh
101
. lbrnd ipeg ly dyrna oiir oke .l"kr ,seqa `"r ct n"a oiire ,eilr ywal xzen exiagl
,digiy el xyt` i`e eilga daxd mixeqi el yiy oebk ,zeniy mingx ywal yi minrtlc :(b 'rqeq) ogleyd jexrd wqet oke
.l"kr ,my o"xe `yepd 't iaxc dyrnk
mc`d lr lltzdl jixvy minrtl `ki`y opireny`l 103 'nbd df hwpe :azeky 102 l"vf oiihypiit n"xbd ly exn`na izi`xe
'eke inic 'xca mb yxetne ,'eke zeniy eilr lltzdl jixvy ,elawzp `l `txziy zeltzde ,eze`txl ze`etx ipin oiliren oi`e xrhvnyk
.y"r
104
eed `l ,iax ly eavn z` erciy i"tr` opax `ld ik ,jtidl di`x zeaezka 'nbdn `axc`c ,xeq`l azek xfril` uivd j`
.mdilk i`yepe r"eya `le xeha `l df ceqin dkldl xkfeny epivn `ly ixg` xeq`l mkqne .ingx irainln iwzy
dzid iaxc 'izn`c ip`y mzd `pin` `pitzqnc e`l i` :azek ,iax ly dyrnd z` hhvny ixg` ,(bpx 'iq g"g) ield hay z"eyae
'iq g"qa 'k `dc miigd lk x`yn iax ip`y l"i mbe ,iaxl miywan mipeilr dxn`ck iaxl miywan minyay drcie ytpa c`n deab dy`
ynn miig miwicv ik zevnd on iytg dyrp zny oeik xn`p `l iaxk miwicvay `"r b"w zeaezk `"wrxbdl q"yd oeilba `aede f"kyzz
.mixg` mileg x`y lr iaxn gikedl oi` k"` ,dkldl ok 'ke ,zevna aiegnd z` xehtl elit`
xrhvny enk zeniy dlegd lr ywal jixv minrtlc dkldl ok raw (z"k mb `iady) `"r 'n mixcp o"xdy dyrp dn la`
h"nc d"lvf mixyin aaec lra l`xyi oe`bl dywd onfn xaky 'ak 'ke dkldl mipexg` zvwa `aede ,digiy el xyt` i`e daxd ilega
geev `w dede 'eke 'ip`n rxw dede `aeh 'ixza opgei 'x xrhvn dedc l"xc 'iytp gp ckc `"r c"t n"an di`x l"pd mixcp o"xd iziin `l
'lrn 'ak k"yne ,zeniy lltzdl xzenc opifg ixd 'iytp gpe mingx opax erae ezrc xwrpe dhzypy i"yx k"ynk 'ipin 'izrc syc cr
.ipira wgec evexiza
miwqeta x`eank millgn dhey lr mby i"tr`e ,zevnn xhtpc cere ,opgei 'xk lecb mc`a dhzyp ip`yc l"i c"prl la`
envra 'il `gip eci lr dyxtzp dxezd lkc opgei 'x mzdc c"p oia welig yi mpn` ,`l` d"c h"ky 'iq g"e` l"daa ahid x`ia xy`ke
e` mrhn zeniy envr lr mingx lbrnd ipeg lltzdc `"r b"k ziprz mxn`l ynn dnec df ixde ,f"dera e"g dheyk digi `le zenilc
.o"xd dfn `iad `lc xitye mixwn x`y lr dfn oecl oi` k"`e ,dhey zeyrl `ly e"we ,`zezin e` `zexag
,mixeqidn el lwdl mi`texd cia oi`e ,mixeqia laeqn `ede ,eze`txl llk `"`y ol xexac dlega recid oecpd z"k `iad aeye
`lc l"pdn cenll yi dxe`klc ,mikex` minei` mixeqi ini epiidc eiykr `edy enk avna eini jix`dl miwfg minq ozil el xyt` wx
l"pdn zei`xdy i"tr` dpd ,k"g`y mipniqae b"r 'iq a"g n"eg dyn zxb` z"eya 'k oke ,`edy zenk egipdl wx dl`d ze`etxd el ozil
.mixeqi jix`dl p"ewt aeig oi`y dfl dhep z"rc zegcl xyt`
dqiqbd ixeqi xvwl ick ytp z`ivi ly rpen xiqdl xiznc h"ly 'iq c"ei `"nxd ixac lr dpa my c"r 'iqa dyn zexb`de
ik mb mixeqi jix`dl ze`etxa weqrl aiig epi`c c"ddc dpa dfne [`"nxa x`ean epi` ok zeyrl aiig mbc 'k `"nxac n"b`d k"yne]
ig wtqy i"tr`c lbd eilr ltpa g"t `neic epizpynn l"pd zegcl dvxc h"g z"ey xfril` uiv 'qn `iad 'ake okeqnd dlegd ini ekx`i
df gkn dvxe ,c"q h"ky 'iq g"e` dyrnl wqtpe zayn g"id a"t m"anxd k"ynk `ixaiy xyt` i`e uvexzpy ede`vn mbe zn wtq
.ytp gewt ly `ln aeig yi ze`txl `"`e milecb mixeqi yiy i"tr` l"xe ,o"xd ixac zegcl
mipe`bd oiay c"eca dfa k"yn d"yri h"rw 'iq e"g ield hay z"eya dl` mixaca iipra k"yn oiir mbe ,dfa 'ak 'k xity dpd
.my dkld xe`ia oiire w"nqa k"ynk qqebk `edc uvexn oiprle qqeb oiprl my izpwqne ,b"i 'iq `"g awri zeaye h"p 'iq awri zia
xzid jxc `l` p"ewt wtq x`y enk aeig xcba epi` qqeba lethdc renyl aexwc h"ly 'iq c"eia l"pd `"nxd oica my izpwqne
mewna f"k aeig `l la` qqeba weqrl `ed xzid jxc wx m` `iran `lc `"nxd oic ceqie ,icia wteqn oicr xacde ,zay dgec k"itr`e
repnl devne ,mikex` dzin ixeqi eixeqi f"ir mixabzn `l m` f"k n"kn `ki` inp aeigc `nip m` mb `l` eixeqi miaxzne miwfgn `lc
.ield hayd ly l"kr,`kil `aeig t"kr qqebac `nlrc `ibeqc ipnecnkc my izazke ,ea rebpl ila epnn
`ed myd l` lltzdl .micia ebxedl xzen mb `linny xne` df oi` ,zeniy dleg lr lltzdl xzeny c"nl mby oiivl aeyge
.eizepeek lr zelz `ll dgivx lkk dxezd on xeq`e mc` dyrn `ed bexdl jci`n .dltzd z` lawl jxazi eznkqda ielze ipgex xac
eilr ywal devn dkldd cvny dfk ote`a daxd xrhvn dlegd m` elit`y c"prlp dfn xzei cere :105 l"vf j`axrie` f"yxbd azk xake
`ed aiig k"b zeni dlegdy 'cl lltzne ywany dry dze`a mb n"n ,miwqeta mb `aede `"r 'n sc mixcpa o"xd y"enke ,zeniy
.minrt dnk elit` zayd z` eilr llgle ezlvda wqrzdl
.(btz 'nr) 2c w"q hly 'iq oldl mb d`xe
.cw sc yix zeaezk (103
b"it hn 'iq f"g ,d 'iq lgx znx d"g (104
.fn 'iq h"ge
.ck ze` `v 'iq `"g dnly zgpn (105
.b ze` frea ,`nei seq (100
.seqa `"r bk ziprz (101
n"b` z"ey .ap 'nr n"cyz lel` ,dixen (102
` ze` br 'iq a"g n"eg
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.`"r n mixcp (96
.`"r cw zeaezk (97
.a w"q cvw 'iq (98
.a"deq h"it zay (99
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Praying for the Death of a Patient: A Halachic View - Daniel Eisenberg, MD
dly oniq drc dxei jexr ogley
xeviwa xeh) .cin miqpkp el`e el` ,ilegd eilr utw m`e .mini 'b xg` ,miwegxde ;cin miqpkp mixagde miaexwd (`) .mileg xwal devn ` sirq
.(o"anxdl =mc`d zxez= d"z 'qn
`"i :dbd .el gixhi `ly calae ,gaeyn f"d siqend lke .elib oa (a) elit`e ,meia minrt dnk elit`e ,ohwd xwal jli lecbd elit` a sirq
el epi`e ,eci`l gnyy aygi `ly ,e`pey `edy la`d mgpi `le ,dleg xwai `l `l` ,il d`xp `le ,(f"vw l"ixdn) dleg xwal jlil leki `peyc
.(b"k 't q"y) il d`xp ok ,xrv `l`
`wece :dbd .eizey`xn dlrnl dpikydy ,eiptl ayeie shrzn `l` ,lqtq b"r `le `qk b"r `le dhn b"r ayi `l dlegd z` xwand b sirq
.(oibdep oke ,o"xd mya i"a) lqtqe `qk lr ayil xzen dhnd lr akeyyk la` ,epnn deab ayeidc ,ux`d lr akey dlegdyk
zery 'ba `le .mingx eilr ywal yegi `le ,xwaa eilg eilr lwin dleg lky iptn ,mei ly zepey`x zery 'ba dlegd oixwan oi` c sirq
.(o"anxd mya i"a) (devnd miiw `l ,mingx eilr ywia `le xwiay lke .mingx eilr ywaln y`iizie eilg eilr ciakn f`y ,mei ly zepexg`
.ycwd oeyla `l` ywai `l ,eipta `ly ywan m`e .dvxiy oeyl lka ywal leki ,eiptl ywan m` ,mingx eilr ywanyk d sirq
.`al daexw d`etxe ,werfln `id zay :xne` zayae .l`xyi ileg jeza jilr mgxi mewnd :xn`iy ,l`xyi ileg jeza c eze` lelki e sirq
.zendn df iptn cgti l`e ,elv` eciwtd e` eeld mixg` e` ,mixg` lv` ciwtd e` deld m` ,eipiipr lr ezrc oziy el mixne` f sirq
,eipta eze` oixwan oi` `xeaic dil dywe `nlr dil siwzc ileg lk oke .y`xd ilegl `le oird ilegl `le mirn ilegl `l oixwan oi` g sirq
.mingx eilr miywane exrv oirneye ,ea `veike ,eiptl uaxle cakl oikixv m` ea oiyxece oil`eye oevigd ziaa oiqpkp `l`
.mely ikxc iptn ,miakek icaer ileg oixwan h sirq
ywaiy xiray mkg lv` jli ,eziaa dleg el yiy iny `"i :dbd .yi`d z` zynyn dy`d la` ,dy`d z` ynyn yi`d oi` mirn ilega i sirq
lk) mileg xewial mcew ,mila` megip .epic xfb rxew myd iepy ik ,ycg my mdl `xwl ,p"kdaa mileg jxal ebdp oke ,(p"i wxt i"p) mingx eilr
.(ea
dly oniq drc dxei j"y
:xzei zrnyp ezltz mixg` mr elleky jezny - l`xyi ileg jeza c
dly oniq drc dxei ogleyd jexr
dnec `di weyl `vei mc` 'eke xhtde zekf `ad el mixne` dlgi m`y dlgi `ly mingx mc` ywai mlerl [` a"l] zaya opiqxb ` sirq
lky oecil mecxbl edelrdy enk eipira dnec idi ltpe dhnl dlr xlewa edepzp el`k eipira dnec idi ey`xa yg heicxql xqnp el`k eipira
lk ozi okle y"r miaeh miyrne daeyz mc` ly oihilwxt od el`e levp epi` e`l m`e levp milecb oihilwxt el yi m` oecil mecxbl dlerd
lawie mi`texa wx 'c z` yxc `l eilga mbe [ai ,fh ,'a minid ixac] `q`a aizkck cal mi`texd lr jenqi `le eilg zra hxtae eal l` mc`
miryze ze`n ryz elt`e miigl mileg aexe eilgn epniwi ik 'ca ghaie zenn livz dwcve aizkck ekxr itl dwcv wlgie eikxc aihdl eilr
edrct xn`ie eppgie exyi mc`l cibdl sl` ipn cg` uiln j`ln eilr yi m` xn`py levip zekf eilr cnln cg`e daeg eilr micnln dryze
:[mitlgzn x"rdg` zeize`c ed`ct enk edrcte ck ,bl aei`] xtek iz`vn zgy zcxn
dlgy r"x icinlzn cg` cinlza dyrn [` 'n] mixcpa `zi`ck jixvy dn el zeyrle dlegd ikxva oiirl `ed mileg xewia zevn xwir b sirq
eti dne minc jtey el`k milegd z` xwan epi`y lk yxce r"x `vi ipziigd iax l"` dig eiptl uaixe caiky liayae exwal r"x qpkpe 'eke
k"`yn ezia iyp` el miynyn aex t"r meiac mikixv mdy dn ze`xl dlild lk milegd lv` miply dpil dxag mi`xwpd mixr dnka zexagd
z` xwand lk [my] l"fg exn`e dpil ixag ly c`n c`n mxky lecb ok lr qpe`a dpiya mirwype meid zcearn milnr ezia iyp`c dlila
xwand lke y"r 'eke ea micakzn lkd ediy ux`a xye`ie oixeqid on ediigie x"dvin edxnyi 'c f"dera exky dne mpidb ly dpicn levp dlegd
zeniy mingx ywal yi minrtlc zeniy `le digiy `l mingx eilr ywan oi` xwan epi`y lke digiy eilr lltzny digiy el mxeb dlegd z`
:[my o"x] `yepd 't iaxc dyrnk digiy el xyt` i`e eilga daxd mixeqi el yiy oebk
zery 'ba `le mingx eilr ywal yegi `le xweaa dlgnd eilr lwin dleg lky iptn mei ly zepey`x zery 'ba dlegd oixwan oi` g sirq
dzr ebdp `l jkitl `nlra dvr `l` xeqi` df oi`e meid rvn`a `l` mingx eilr ywaln y`iizie eilg eilr ciakn f`y mei ly zepexg`
:devnd miiw `l mingx eilr ywa `le dlegd z` xwiay in lke [l"p] dfa wcwcl
`edy s` inx` oeyla oixikn zxyd ik`ln oi`y ycewd oeyla `l` lltzi `l dlegd ipta `ly lltzn m` mingx eilr ywanyk h sirq
aeh xzei ef dricl elit`c i`cee n"n zepeyl ix`yl `le oiwwcfn oi` inx` oeyll wxy `"iy s`e mixg` zepeyla e"we ycewd oeyll aexw
eze` lelki dltzdae dpikyd iptln ywan lekiake my dpikyd ixdy oeyl lka lltzdl leki dlegd ipta la` [c"wq f"h 'ir] ycewd oeyla
xne` zayae mzltz z` dfa `l ik daeyg xzei miax cra dltzc l`xyi ileg ix`y jeza jilr mgxi mewnd xn`iy l`xyi ileg ix`y jeza
:f"tx 'iq g"`a 'ire melya ezaye oiaexn eingxe `al daexw d`etxe werfln `id zay
z`ixw zrya p"kdaa milegd z` jxal ebdp oke epkxaiye mingx eilr ywaiy xiray mkg lv` jli ezia jeza dleg el yiy iny `"i ai sirq
enk mc` ly oic xfb mirxewd mixacdn cg` edfc enyl my cer el oitqeny xnelk myd oipyn dwfg dlgnd m`e xxerzn mingx f`c dxezd
elit` ixdy llk `xidp `l c"prle ig `ed m` rcei inc eilr elltzi `l xg` mewna dlegdykc xnel dvexy in yie [a f"h] d"xa l"fg exn`y
mileg xewial mcew megipe llk dfa wtwtl oi`e heytd bdpnd oke dltz oiiprl y"ke [` g"k oihib] miigl mileg aexc miiga dil opiwfgn hba
:mcew mileg xewia dlegdl zlrez rcei m` la` cal miigl mileg xewiae miznde miigd mr cqg edfc
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