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Bishlack, 2008
Although the Talmud does have a rule of Shiteekoh
Kihoido, which means silence can be assumed as an
agreement. One must still be careful as to how exactly
this can be understood and also as to which circumstances
it can be applied. One may not apply this rule when
the other party may not bee 100% sure as to what
has been asked or may not 100% understand the situation.
In light of the above just mentioned, I would like
to say that usually I don't get involved in politics
however sometimes not stating ones view can be assumed
as agreeing. I have also had many questions and
inquiries this week concerning the organ donors
and the donor cards which the Government were thinking
of implementing. By doing so they wished to follow
the logic that unless one opts out, they are agreeing
to having there organs donated after they pass away.
Whilst Judaism maintains the highest regard for
life and for cherishing life, one can never value
the quality of one life over another. The story
is told of one of the hospitals in Israel where
they were faced with a challenge when a young boy
was brought in by ambulance and needed a life machine
which was unfortunately unavailable.
The doctors decided to take an elder patient of
the electric machine allowing the younger and healthier
child to have the machine.
Unfortunately the child ended up dying whilst this
older patient continued to live for a few more years.
Therefore no one can ever evaluate one life over
another be it young or old, healthy or not so healthy.
And hospitals faced with this kind of challenge
should serve on a first come first served basis.
But the question still remains of what to do with
organ donation. Currently there are 12 million people
in this country who have opted for their organs
to be given to help somebody to live after they
pass away. That is 20% of the population. However
in the last year only 1,200 peoples organs were
taken, even though according to these statistic
there was a potential of 100,000 people. This is
a rather small proportion because in order for an
organ to be used it has to be healthy and the technology
must be such that they can take it out and use it.
The main issue which arises is that medical technology
is not advanced enough yet to allow major organs
like the heart to be removed from the body after
the time of death.
When one thinks of the lay out of a hospital they
will realize that the intensive care unit is only
one ward in the hospital. Yet the intensive care
unit is the only ward in which organs can be taken.
And therefore the technology needs to still advance
to a level that organs may be taken out even after
a person has been officially pronounced dead, and
not only when they are on a life support machine.
Organs such as the kidney and other organs which
can be taken after the time of death may be used
and are, especially in Israel. A close friend of
mine Yoni Jesner who was blown up by a bus in 2003
in Jerusalem had his kidney donated and given to
a young Arab girl who is now healthy and living
a normal life. In the face of bad and evil came
good and life. But with kidneys technology has advanced
to the level that halachah would allow namely to
be taken after the time of death and therefore it
is also the organ donated most.
Judaism therefore would allow for certain organs
to be taken after the time of death, which could
be of use. But medical technology is yet to advance
to allow more people in society to have their organs
donated without having to be on a life machine.
For Jews even whilst on a life support machine a
person would be considered alive and every part
of the body would need to remain intact and therefore
it is difficult for Jews currently to allow for
their organs to be donated.
This discussion which has been brought up in the
House of Commons is only at the early stages and
the Government is by no means at a level to actually
carry out this project.
It is important to bear in mind that whilst what
I have said is a brief over view it is still very
brief. Great Rabbis and medical experts who are
experts in these fields and more acquaint on subject
than me are spending their lives researching these
areas. The bottom line to remember with all these
issues is that each and every situation must be
judged on its own merits and therefore a Rabbi must
be contacted to discuss each situation.
Therefore were this law ever to be passed in time
to come it would be important for people to ensure
that they are not signed up for automatic donation
of organs.
An address to the Moseley Minyan (Bo, 2007)
It is wonderful to be back here in the warm and
friendly confines of the Moseley minyan. This is
my first time in Moseley since taking over as chief
minister. And I have come today together with the
President Alan Blumenthal and the chairman Keith
Rowe because I want to ensure that I get to know
you the members of Moseley better and that I offer
you the things that you want and need. I hope to
now put into the diary to come here a few times
a year and take part in your services.
An exciting time ahead for Americans whilst the
stage has been set for what many believe is a perfect
setting for a great drama. Young African American
Barack Obama has put him self forward as candidate
for presidency against Hilary Clinton. Either way
the victory of either candidate will be exciting
for us to watch as it both parties will unfold a
new era and make history in their own way. Having
a women President or an African American as president
is something which the country has never had before.
But for a moment I would like to speak about one
point which has been spoken about in the media.
What remains so unique about Barack Obama is that
for the first time almost since the sixties Americans
are seeing youngsters getting involved in politics.
Something has reawakened a spark and an interest
which is making people want to get involved and
have opinions on these matters.
One of the presenters I was listening to on Radio
four pointed out that youngsters have felt that
for the last few decades they have not had something
of their own to be passionate about in politics.
But yet now Obama's message is new and exciting,
and its moving young people to want to get involved.
Though it resonates an old message of tolerance
respect and opportunity for all men despite colour
or creed it also has a new angle which has made
the message ever more meaningful and relevant.
The sidrot we read at the moment are well known
to us all because they make up the main part of
the Seder night. The story of our exodus from Egypt,
and when discussing the exodus from Egypt the verse
says: If your child asks you tomorrow, what is this
you should say to him, with a mighty hand took us
out of Egypt."
Rashi points out that when the Torah says the word
Mochor – tomorrow it can either mean now meaning
leteraly or it can mean in a time to come. But our
Rabbis say that Rashi is not just offering us an
explanation of the word machor here but rather is
also teaching us a deeper lesson.
When your child will ask, you should know that there
is a son who is achshav and there is a son who is
achar Ziman. There is a child who is now who lives
by the same precepts and with the same excitement
and enthusiasm as you. And then there is a son who
is achar zimon – of a later time. He considers
himself to be more modern of a different generation
a different ilk to that of his father. Sadly that
son has lost the passion, the enthusiasm the excitement.
And therefore the Torah tells us that even if you
have a son who is not following your way of life,
he does not share you interests remember he is bincho.
He is your son, you as his father have the obligation
to teach him and inspire him so that he will become
Achshav – a son who feels like you.
When children don't feel a passion, when children
don't feel a love and a connection we have to remember,
binchoh they are our children they are our future.
They are our tomorrow.
King David School has that ability to teach children
to love and appreciate for themselves what Judaism
is all about. A month after we arrived in Birmingham
we had a family over for dinner whose children attend
King David. And I remember then being so impressed
with the knowledge and fluency of the children.
Having grown up in Glasgow and attending Calderwood
Lodge primary school I appreciate all too well the
roots and foundations that a school like King David
gives a child.
Therefore without taking away any of the speech
from Mr. Langford, I would like to say that how
ever big or small King David is and however many
Jewish children it does or does not have. King David
is one of the great Jewels in the crown of Birmingham
Jewish community. I in my new position of Chief
Minister look forward to begin working with the
school in the role as its Rabbi so that in years
to come the people of Birmingham will still look
upon King David with pride and affection.
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