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Jewish people, I have a question?
I was discussing this a while ago with a friend and we didn't know the answer. I know that Jews do not consume pork or anything made from pigs. However is it ok to use anything from the pigs for a medical basis? I know that many heart surgeries may use some anatomy from a pig to replace diseased/damaged human anatomy...is that all right for a Jewish person to do that or would they have to use something synthetic if possible? I am just curious about that. Thanks for your answers!
2 Answers
- allonyoavLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
In Judaism there is a concept known as "pikuach nefesh". This concept delineates the boundaries as to what can and cannot be done to save a life.
What cannot be done:
1) murder
2) sexual immorality i.e. incest, adultery, sodomy, bestialit
3) Idolatry (including worship in any other religion)
What can be done? Anything not in the list above! In short, virtually anything goes when saving a life. The importance of human life can be seen in th following statement of the sages in the Talmud: He who saves a single lif, it is as if he saved an entire world. He who kills a single life, it is as if they have destroyd an entire world."
Source(s): Orthodox Jew; Acting Rabbi; Torah; Talmud - Anonymous1 decade ago
answer: yes, medical usage is permitted, especially to save a life. It's the consumption that's forbidden.
