Harvesting organs from death row inmates and terrorists
Hello Rabbi,
Recently, a post by Avri Gilad was published suggesting harvesting the organs of terrorists for transplants as a deterrent (as every terrorist knew that his death would save Jewish lives). I wanted to ask in general whether it is appropriate for a state to use the organs of those sentenced to death in general, and in particular for terrorists? I thought that perhaps there is a problem here that people will think that the state is rushing to sentence to death in order to use the organs of the condemned, or perhaps the state will try less to prevent crimes that lead to the death penalty because the result will result in more lives anyway. It also reminded me of the verse “And if an ox gores a man or a woman, and he dies, the ox shall be stoned and not eaten of its flesh,” which perhaps has something to do with distancing oneself from evil and destroying its memory. Even in the world, it is common to see such a practice as a practice of dark regimes (like China, for example, and even they stopped this practice in 2015).
Best regards,
I have no problem with such a proposal, but of course in our emotional society and in the West in general it has no chance of being accepted. Try suggesting that a wounded terrorist not be treated or that they be given the death penalty. When such a proposal is made, everyone is very shocked, and starts blabbering about organ trafficking, etc. I have previously devoted columns to human versus moral values and the mixing of emotions with morality (the examples of psychologist Haidt).
There have been proposals in the past not to return the bodies of terrorists, or not to bury them but to throw their bodies away like carrion. Everyone was very shocked. I also remember a proposal to bury them in pig skin, which according to their belief prevents them from being a member of the Jewish People’s Army (with all its pleasures). Everyone was very shocked about that too. Stupid people, what can be done.
Of course, judicial control mechanisms are needed to ensure that this is not misused (that was the concern in China. I don’t know if it’s true). But once a person is killed anyway, why wouldn’t their organs be used to save a life?!
The rabbi did not address another aspect in his reply for some reason.
(I heard from Rabbi Sharlo, who was part of the committees that determine organ donations and regulate them in all aspects)
The whole issue of organ donations and probably also the research on them, we, like all developed countries, are part of something global, we donate and contribute from shared international pools.
If we do what we want, we will simply be removed from this international organization and then many more people will simply die here.
Apart from the issue that if in the eyes of the world they are playing with this issue, it is something delusional, despicable and vile, a country that does such things is considered leprous and repulsive and it is also a desecration of the ’ (beyond the immediate costs in many areas for someone who is considered a repulsive and disgusting leper)
Does the rabbi agree with these practical arguments?
(In fairness, I must point out that Rabbi Sharlo's words were not specific to this question, but rather to the word paying money for a kidney donation in order to increase the number of 'donors' and ultimately supposedly save lives.
Beyond the real problem of trade that will surely develop in such depleted organs and other shocking and despicable survivors that will surely come, and beyond the fact that it is likely that fewer kidneys will come for 'donation' once it becomes trade,
Bottom line: the international organization has declared us lepers and then many more will die here than in the vile game of money for an organ.
He was not talking about matching terrorists, but the international argument is valid, in my humble opinion, for terrorists as well)
C”l:
*But about the offer to pay money
*The international organization will declare us as lepers
*He did not talk about donations from terrorists
God forbid we take organs from them. Rather, their evil hearts should be uprooted and a warm Jewish heart implanted in them!
With heartfelt greetings, Even Lev
I didn't understand that comment. After all, that's exactly what I wrote.
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