I often have to work Friday nights, but technically, that 's a no-no for observant jews. I'm sure the hospital wards aren't unmanned in Israel though, come Friday night. What justification is used to make it OK to work then?
Israel - 9 Answers
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1 :
The laws of the Sabbath may be suspended to provide any necessary medical care to a critically ill individual or to an individual in the likelihood of danger to life. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/pikuach_nefesh.html From the same source. In Judaism, human life is essential and so pikuach nefesh, the obligation to save a life in jeopardy, is considered a major value to uphold. This obligation applies to both an immediate threat and a less grave danger that has the potential of becoming serious. Pikuach nefesh is derived from the biblical verse, “Neither shall you stand by the blood of your neighbor†(Lev. 19:16). According to pikuach nefesh a person must do everything in their power to save the life of another, even donate bodily organs. Ovaday Yosef, the former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, ruled that one may donate an organ to a person in critical need, so long as it does not put the donor’s life at risk.
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to save lives you're allowed.
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Shay P is correct. Judaism places great value on Human life - to the extent that there is a saying in the Talmud that "one who saves another's life is as if s/he has saved the whole world." Specifically regarding saving lives on Shabbat, the logic is simple - as stated in the Talmud, "It is worth violating one Shabbat in order to keep many Sabbaths" = It is worth it for the nurse to violate his/her shabbat in order to give the person s/he saves the opportunity to fulfill many shabbats for the rest of their life. Tequila is also correct. "It's not a matter of "justifying" anything. Behind the mitzva (commandment) system is the understanding "veChai bahem"/ "And you shall LIVE by them" (the commandments). In other words, G-d commanded Jews to LIVE in accordance with His laws."
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Hi. It's not a matter of "justifying" anything. Behind the mitzva (commandment) system is the understanding "veChai bahem"/ "And live by them" (the commandments). In other words, G-d commanded Jews to live in accordance with His laws. The Torah is a very functional framework for living a decent life. (The goal is not to wind up tied up in knots or, G-d forbid, dead.) Among the hospitals in Israel, there are a few that are run according to Jewish law, such as Shaarei Tzedek Hospital http://www.szmc.org.il/Eng/Index.asp?CategoryID=198&ArticleID=885&SearchParam=sabbathobservance http://www.szmc.org.il/Eng/Index.asp?CategoryID=198&ArticleID=969 in Jerusalem and Laniado in Netanya. http://www.laniado.org.il/Eng/Index.asp I am acquainted with a number of nurses and doctors in Jerusalem that scrupulously keep the Sabbath. They prefer to work at institutions that facilitate keeping the Torah laws while on duty. Over the years, many technological advances have contributed to the ease with which professional medical personnel can safeguard their patients' health and Torah commandments simultaneously. http://www.hashkafah.com/grama-Switch-Halachic-Novelties-t23425.html Among the technologies instituted in religious Israeli hospitals: a nurse call system for Shabbat, special telephones for essential Shabbat use by medical personnel, automatic hot water urns for institutional use, and elevator controls for Shabbat use in multistory buildings. http://www.scienceandhalacha.org/areas.shtml Some also use approved disappearing ink pens so that info. that must be written on Shabbat in a patient's chart becomes temporary and can be rewritten Saturday night after sundown.
5 :
They asked Jesus the same question. The answer is still true. It is not unholy to do good on the Sabbath.
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Preservation of life/helping the sick trumps all other laws. Period!
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Saving a human life takes precedence over any other commandment. There is nothing they need justify. All the best.
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They are involved in life-saving work, like doctors. .
9 :
Jewish Orthodox Nurses and doctors work Friday nights and Saturdays with full rabbinical endorsement, since saving human life precedes Sabbath observance; it is in the Torah.
