The kidneys that sanctified the name of heaven • The New York Times on 'The Gift of Life''

August 18, 2014   

It's not every day that you see a picture of an ultra-Orthodox man in the world's most important newspaper. But that's what happens when reporter Kevin Sack, a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and other leading international journalism awards, dedicated his article in The New York Times this week to kidney transplants, noting the fact that Israel is one of the world's leading countries in animal kidney donations, thanks to the awareness that exists among the Israeli public - much of it due to the activities of Rabbi Yeshayahu Haber.

The chairman of the 'Gift of Life' organization, himself a kidney transplant recipient, chose to dedicate his life to improving the lives of kidney patients, to raising awareness about animal kidney donations, and to assisting in locating potential donors for seriously ill kidney patients who need animal transplants to save their lives. So far, he has managed to locate over 100 donors who have saved the lives of others. Rabbi Haber is quoted in the article as having brought about a significant change in consciousness in Israel, and thanks to him, many have already received kidney transplants.

The article, which is causing a stir in the international medical world, states that compared to the low number of transplants from brain-dead donors, due to halachic reservations, when it comes to kidney transplants from living donors, the response in Israel is among the highest in the world.   

In a conversation with the newspaper reporter, Rabbi Haber explained the distinction between posthumous donations and living kidney donations, saying: "The fact that I have been involved in the subject of transplants for seven years has not changed my opinion on donations after brain death. I am a student of Rabbi Elyashiv zt"l, who ruled that brain death is not called death, in contrast to kidney donation, which saves a life and does not harm the life or quality of life of the donor who is privileged to save a human life.".

The article quotes professors who point out the Israeli bureaucracy that makes kidney donations difficult, but they also point out the fact that in Israel there is an increase in the number of living donors for kidney patients. "So far, thank God, we have been able to save many thanks to kidney donations from people who saved other Jews with their bodies, and we hope to continue to save as many lives in Israel as possible thanks to raising awareness of this important issue," says Rabbi Haber.