Organ Donation

Here's an important question and answer I recently had from a student, on a subject of utmost importance.

Shalom Rabbi Josh,I was wondering, what does the Judaism (or if the opinions are split what domain branches of it) say about being an organ donor? And what do youhonestly think? I'm not exactly sure of Judaism's stance on after life butwould organ donation affect any aspect of this in any way (so let's say if alot of a person was disassembled. how would it affect the preservation ofthe soul in your opinion). And lastly independent of the above ( and sorryif this is personal, you don't have to answer) would you become an organ donor?

Dear____,

Thanks for your question. I'm actually considering speaking about this next fall during Yom Kippur. Judaism's approach to organ donation is fundamentally a conflict between the overriding principle of 'pikuach nefesh,' or the duty to protect and save human life, versus another important principle of 'nivul ha-met,' or treating a human corpse with the utmost respect. There is virtually no disagreement that organ donation after death, when it leads to saving a life, is at least commendable and possibly obligatory. The disagreement among Orthodox authorities has to do with the definition of death--whether it occurs with the cessation of brain activity (brain death) or the cessation of heart beat. If the latter, there are many fewer organs that can be harvested; if the former, virtually all organs are usable.

I personally subscribe to the view that the end of brain activity marks death, and have myself signed up to be an organ donor. More information on this topic can be found at www.hods.org, the Halakhic Organ Donor Society.

As to the question of what this does to the soul, resurrection, etc.: On eschatological topics such as these, there are a wide range of opinions. In general, however, the ability to save a life in this world always trumps open-ended questions about our existence in the next. The Torah famously says 'v'chai bahem'--we are supposed to live by the mitzvot, to which Rabbi Akiba added, 'v'lo yamutu,' and not to die by them. Our tradition is one that upholds the value of human life above anything else.

Best,

Rabbi Josh