Emergency Request for a Partial Liver Transplant

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

A choshuva young man from Far Rockaway is in need of a partial liver transplant as soon as possible.  Unfortunately, the family recently received word that the candidate they had in mind was disqualified from being a donor.  The blood type needed is A positive.

If anyone would like to assist in this matter please email [email protected] to be put in touch with the family.

Living-donor transplantation involves the removal of a portion of the donor’s healthy liver for transplantation into a recipient in need. A family member or someone emotionally close to the recipient may volunteer to donate a portion of their healthy liver. This procedure is made possible by the liver’s unique ability to regenerate. After transplantation, the partial livers of both the donor and recipient will grow and remodel to form complete organs.

Saving a life is a fundamental mitzvah. What is the source of this mitzvah? The verse in Parshas Ki Seitzei (Devarim 22:2) discusses the mitzvah of hashavas aveida, returning an object, with the words, “Vahasheivoso lo, and you shall return it to him.” The Gemara in Sanhedrin (73a), however, includes within its understanding of these words the obligation of returning “his own life to him as well.” For example, if thieves are threatening to pounce upon him, there is an obligation of “vahasheivoso lo.” In other words, this verse is the source for the mitzvah of saving someone’s life. It is highly probable that it is to this general mitzvah that the Shulchan Aruch refers to in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 325.

Lo Sa’amod Al Dam Rayacha

There is a negative mitzvah of not standing idly by your brother’s blood as well. This is mentioned in Shulchan Aruch (CM 426:1) and in the Rambam. Collectively, if we can find a partial donor here, we can ensure that we do not stand idly by our brother’s blood.

Lo Suchal l’Hisalaym

There is yet another negative commandment associated with the positive commandment of hashavas aveida, and that is the verse in Devarim (22:3), “You cannot shut your eyes to it.” This verse comes directly after the mitzvah of hashavas aveida. The Netziv (Ha’amek She’eilah) refers to this mitzvah as well.

V’Chai Achicha Imach

The Sheiltos (Sheilta #37), based upon the Gemara in Bava Metziah 62a, understands these words to indicate an obligation to save others with you. The Netziv in his Ha’amek She’eilah understands it as a full-fledged obligation according to all opinions. He writes that he must exert every effort to save his friend’s life—until it becomes pikuach nefesh for himself.

V’Ahavta l’Re’acha Kamocha

The Ramban, Toras haAdam Shaar HaSakana (p42-43), understands the verse of “And love thy neighbor as yourself” as a directive to save him from danger as well. He is discussing the issue of medical danger.

The young man is from a very special family of mechanchim as well.

Please contact [email protected] if you can help.  The donor must be A positive blood type.