Rabbi Moshe Feinstein was born in 1895 and had great influences in his life like his father being a Rabbi ( Jewish Virtual Library, 2016). He came to the United States in 1937 where he became a Yeshiva in New York. He was well-known for his work as a religious law authority figure and his rulings were respected by people across the world. He was dedicated and selfless; people would approach him with their problems and dilemmas. His decisions were published and continue to influence people of this community. Rabbi Moshe gave his opinion on a number of issues, including medical decisions like heart transplantation and artificial insemination.
One of his well-known rulings was on patient care by medical professionals and medical students. The Rabbi was questioned on Jewish medical professional roles on the Sabbath. Based on the Jewish codes of Shulchan Aruch and Mishmeh Torah, he claimed that a medical professional was required to perform the acts of patient care without a limitation (Rosner, 1990). The profession is still expected to refrain from the practices not allowed on a Sabbath but where necessary for the care of the patient, these laws can be broken. For instance, in regard to using the elevator on the Sabbath, the Rabbi ruled that the physicians can answer their phones or pagers, ride the elevator since all patients according to him were to be considered dangerously ill. The Rabbi ruled that it was a physician’s responsibility to treat his patients with skill and competence and failure to do so disqualifies them of this role. As such, based on the framework of halachic permissibility, the physician is allowed to sacrifice some spirit of the Sabbath so as to deliver maximum care to the patients without violating the Sabbath law (Rosner, 1990). The Rabbi classified all patients as being dangerously ill even in the case of patients who were responsible for their illness due to negligence. The Rabbi passed other rulings for patients observing the Sabbath. He allowed a hearing-impaired person to use their hearing aid even on Sabbath. In addition, disabled patients were allowed the use of canes, wheelchairs, walkers and other forms of mechanical aid.
Rabbi Feinstein gave his opinion on the subject of psychiatry. He ruled that a patient that was somewhat healed but hospitalised for observation was not required to be removed from the hospital against the physician’s advice in order for them to hear the blowing of Shofar on Rosh Hashanah (Rosner, 1990). In a different ruling, he allowed a woman who had suffered post-partum psychoses to use contraceptives since her being pregnant again would be a threat to her mental health. In another ruling, he allowed the hospitalisation of a girl in a place where she would be fed non-kosher foods. Also, he expressed his concern on Jewish patients using a non-Jewish psychiatrist since the professional’s word and analytical deductions could be damaging to the patient’s value system (Abboudi, 2014). But when asked if a patient was to choose between two professionals, one that was not a specialist but was Torah-observant and another that was an atheist but a specialist, he concluded that one should choose the most expert physician even though they were atheists (Rosner, 1990). On the subject of dentistry, he responded on issues of temporary fillings and tevilah, ritual immersion. Permanent braces were said not to be an interposing barrier and did not hinder the process of tevilah. However, removable dentures, braces, and bridges had to be removed before tevilah. He gave his opinion on the issue of smoking and halacha. He claimed that he was aware of the dangers presented by smoking like lung cancer and heart disease. He explained that although it was proper for people not to smoke because of the dangers it presents, the practice cannot be prohibited because of this danger. He also explained that even for the people who were strict and prohibited this practice, there was no problem lighting a match for smokers. His opinions about smoking were later confirmed when he gave his view that, “The Lord preserveth the simple” as a concept applied to incidences of natural dangers (Rosner, 1990). He also referred to the phrase, dashu bo rabim, which means that the multitude is aware and accepts it. That means that the society knows the risks of smoking and accepts them just like flying in an airplane. On the subject of secondary smoking, Rabbi Feinstein gave a different opinion. He claimed that smokers were obligated to do so in private or away from other people. The people who cause harm or discomfort to non-smokers are referred to as mazikin, people inflicting danger to others. The Rabbi, however, prohibited the smoking of marijuana claiming that it was harmful to the body. The Rabbi gave his opinion on visiting the sick. He pointed out that visiting the sick was better than just paying a social call. He claimed that it was not possible to provide help via the telephone and it was better to help the sick and pray for them. However, if a person is unable to visit their bedside, they can pay a social call over the telephone because they at least performed the act.
Another of his well-known rulings was on Tay-Sachs screening and abortion (Rosner, 1990). He was asked whether such screening should be publicised or should be a private test. His response was it was advisable for people preparing to get married to have the tests and also that it was proper for such tests to be conducted in private and for secrecy to be maintained to prevent others from learning about the tests performed on one another. The Rabbi, however, condemned the practice of abortion. In some of his rulings, he allowed the use of contraceptives, for instance, for a woman who had previously given birth to defective children. Rabbi Feinstein talked on the subject of contraception which is a sensitive subject in the Jewish community. Rabbi allows the use of some contraceptive methods like a diaphragm if pregnancy would dangerous and even allowed the use of condoms for men. On the subject of women using the oral contraceptive pill, Rabbi allowed this practice for women who already had two children and would have difficulty raising more children. His rulings, as explained earlier were specific to the cases at hand. In general, he ruled that according to the Jewish law, contraceptive methods and devices were not to be used unless for certain medical problems like heart disease, renal failure and likelihood of pregnancy being dangerous for a mother.
Rabbi Feinstein’s teachings still have an influence on matters of today for the Jewish community. For example, in the subject of physicians treating patients even on the Sabbath, there are still arguments on whether this practice is allowed based on the Jewish teachings. There was doubt that the Jewish people allowed healing and the saving of lives on the Sabbath and a number of debates including the rulings of Rabbi Feinstein shed light on this subject (Collins, 2015). Based on his ruling and the Jewish teachings, people of the Jewish community understand that the practice of caring for the sick and the sanctity of life should be a priority for a Jew. As such, Jewish medical students and physicians are allowed to perform their healing and patient care responsibilities even on the Sabbath. Another subject that Rabbi Feinstein addressed was on abortion and the cases when this practice can be allowed. Basically, abortion is prohibited in the Jewish community since it is forbidden by their laws of populating the world, destroying something created in the image of God, and destroying something that would become a human being (BBC, 2009a). However, some exceptions are allowed like in the case of saving a mother’s life or mental distress. Rabbi Feinstein views on abortion are observed to this day. The use of contraception is generally not allowed with an exception of certain cases like pregnancy being a danger for the mother (BBC, 2009b).
In conclusion, a society’s beliefs are based on certain factors like their religion’s teachings and for the Jewish community, it is applicable. People of this community have had various events and people that influence their practices and beliefs today. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein is one of these people. His teachings were famous during his time and were observed by multiple people across the world. Today, these teachings still have an effect on the lives of practicing Jews.
References
Abboudi, D. (2014, December 23). Orthodox Perspectives on Interfaith Dialogue. Kol Hamevaser. Retrieved from http://www.kolhamevaser.com/2014/12/orthodox-perspectives-on-interfaith-dialogue-2/
BBC. (2009a, July 15). Abortion. BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/jewishethics/abortion_1.shtml
BBC. (2009b, July 21). Abortion. BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/jewishethics/contraception.shtml
Collins, N. (2015, February 19). Why doctors can heal on Shabbat. The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved from http://www.thejc.com/judaism/judaism-features/130211/why-doctors-can-heal-shabbat
Jewish Virtual Library. (2016). Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. Retrieved from https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/feinstein.html
Rosner, F. (1990). Rabbi Moshe Feinstein's influence on Medical Halacha. Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society, 20, 47-75. Retrieved from https://www.hods.org/pdf/Rabbi%20Moshe%20Feinstein's%20Inf.pdf
