Rabbi Yosef Sprung
Pekudei 5779 Paragraph Parents at high-risk of transmitting genetic disease to their offspring can ensure the birth of healthy babies through Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). PGD enables the genetic diagnosis...
Rabbi Yossi SprungMay I Use My Friend’s Body as a Resource for Saving My Own life?
Bo 5779 ‘And Moshe called to all the elders of Yisrael and he said to them ‘draw forth and take for yourselves a sheep for your families, and slaughter the Pesach offering’ (Shemos 12:21) Paragraph The Mitzva of...
Paternity Testing and the Adulterous Wife in Halacha
Naso 5779 “If a man’s wife will go astray and commit a treachery against him.” (Bamidbar 5:12) Paragraph In this week’s Parsha, the Torah outlines the laws of the Sotah – the woman whose husband suspects her of being...
Performing Medical Procedures on Parents
Mishpatim 5779 ‘And somebody who strikes his father or mother shall surely die’ (Shemos 21:12) Paragraph In this verse we learn of the grave sin of striking one’s father or mother. The Gemara in Sanhedrin (84b-85a)...
Chatzitza and Contraceptive Devices
Metzorah “And he shall wash his clothes and immerse his body in water, and he will be pure.” (Vayikra 14:9) This verse is the source of the law...
Switching Shabbos Shifts with Non-Observant Colleagues
Matot-Masei 5779 “But if her husband shall annul them on the day of his hearing, anything that came out of her mouth regarding her vows or the prohibition upon herself shall not stand; her husband had annulled them and...
Chillul Shabbos and Experimental Therapy
Korach 5779 “And Moshe said to Aharon, Take the fire-pan and place fire on it from upon the altar and place incense …” (Bamidbar 17:11) In this week’s Parsha, following the death of Korach and his followers, a raging...
Forceps Delivery and Pidyon Haben
Ki Tisa 5779 “Every first issue from the womb is Mine; and all your livestock that produce a male, that which emerges from an ox or a sheep. That which first emerges from a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, and if...
Work-Life Balance and the Torah-Observant Physician
Ki Teitzei 5779 “…and so shall you do for any lost article of your brother that may become lost from him and you find it; you cannot hide yourself.” Devarim 22:3 Practicing medicine, though famously described by Chaza”l...
Does the Prohibition to Disrespect One’s Parents Apply to Psychotherapy?
Ki Tavo 5779 ארור מקלה אביו ואמו ואמר כל העם אמן (דברים כז, טז) “Accursed is one who degrades his father or mother. And the entire people shall say Amen.” (Devarim 27:16) According to Rashi, the word...
May a Kohen Skip to the Head of the Line?
Emor 5779 “You shall sanctify him, for he offers the food of your G-d; he shall be holy to you, for holy am I, Hashem, Who sanctifies you.” (Vayikra 21:8). The Mishna in Horayos (13a) famously rules that a Kohen must be...
Are Medical Professionals Obligated to Fast on Tisha b’Av Observed on Sunday?
Devarim 5779 The Rambam (Hilchos Ta’anis 1:3) rules that the obligation to observe a Ta’anis Tzibur (public fast) is a Mitzvas Aseh (affirmative commandment) of the Chachamim and an institution of the Nevi’im. However...
Artificial Tears on Shabbos
Chukat 5779 “…The waters of the eye are salty. The waters of the ear are fatty. The waters of the nose are disgusting. The waters of the mouth are sweet. Why were the waters of the eye created salty? For when a person...
Is it Permissible to Perform Activities That Are Forbidden on Shabbos Using Ones Mind?
Beshalach 5779 ‘Hashem said to Moshe, “Behold – I shall rain down for you food from Heaven; let the people go out and pick each day’s matter on its day, so that I may test him, whether he will follow my Torah or not...
The Askan’s Liability
Behar 5779 “Do not harass one another, and you shall have fear of your G-d; for I am Hashem, your G-d” (Vayikra 25:17). “Here the Torah enjoins us that one should neither harass his fellow verbally nor give him...
Praying for the Terminally Ill to Die
Behaalotcha 5779 “And Moshe cried out to Hashem, saying, Please G-d, heal her now” (Bamidbar 12:13) This Posuk in this week’s Parsha is the source for the age-old custom to pray for the speedy recovery of someone who is...
What Role Is There For Doctors In the Homes of Those Who Fear Hashem?
Bechukosai 5779 “If you will follow My decrees and observe My commandments and perform them.” (Vayikra 26:3) In this week’s Parsha, the Torah promises great reward to the Jewish people when they fulfill Hashem’s...
