Guidelines by Maran HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv
1. Kohanim should avoid entering hospitals as much as
possible.
2. When a Kohen must visit a hospital urgently he is
permitted to enter on condition that the hospital is such
that most of the day it does not have tumas meis, or
at least half the day it does not have tumas meis. The
basis for this hetter is that when necessary we can
say "sofeik tumoh bereshus horabim tohor" also applies
regarding tumas kohanim.
If possible one should not rely on the above [hetter,]
but determine that there is no corpse in the hospital before
entering. One should also try hard to remain for as little
time as possible, in any case not so long that it can be
assumed that there is another source of tumoh in that
hospital [based on its average death occurrence rate].
3. In cases where kohanim are permitted to enter the
hospital, he should try to close every door that can be
closed in the corridors and hallways, and especially the door
of the room where he is situated. And if drainpipes or other
protrusions extend from the wall above the windows of the
room, he should try to close those windows.
The following information about various hospitals in Eretz
Yisroel was gathered by Shearis Yisroel community services
and dated Kislev, 5764. Further information was published in
their annual publication (Hebrew) Glatt, of Pesach
5763. For more information, please contact, 03 579 8217. We
have included hospitals in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak and Netanya,
as well as Tel Hashomer.
Hadassah Ein Kerem -- Jerusalem
Kohanim are prohibited from entering since tumas
meis is present at almost all times. Kohanim are
permitted to enter the dental clinics, which have a separate
entrance outside the hospital.
On Monday 2 Kislev (December 1) Shearis Yisroel announced
that bone fragments were found in a room in the dental clinic
area (even though this issue had been addressed in the past).
For further information, please contact the Shearis number
given above.
For further inquiries contact the rov of the hospital, HaRav
Yaakov Rakovsky at 02-6776229 (office) or 02-6522930
(home).
Hadassah Har Hatzofim -- Jerusalem
With regard to permanent tumoh: The morgue and
pathology institute are isolated by double doors.
With regard to irregular tumoh (mizdamenet): Average
of 1-2 deaths per day.
Fetuses (nefolim): Problematic. Removed all day, from
8:00 am to 7:00 pm. Gynecological operations also performed
in operating rooms, where tumoh-causing material
remains present for an extended period.
Many of the nefolim and meisim are goyim, which
makes the resulting tumoh less severe (see Yoreh
Deah 372, 2).
Bikur Cholim -- Jerusalem
With regard to permanent tumoh: Morgue and pathology
institute located outside the hospital.
With regard to irregular tumoh: Average of 4 deaths
per week in the main building. In case of present
tumoh, a warning sign for kohanim is displayed
outside.
In the maternity building the number of nefolim is
less than one per week. Gynecological operations are
generally performed on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the
early afternoon and during this time the warning sign is
displayed.
Outpatient clinics, C.T. scanning and ultrasound scanning is
performed in a separate building where there is no concern of
tumas meis (except for the cardiology institute
located in the maternity building).
For further inquiries contact the rov of the hospital, HaRav
Aharon Roz, at 056-507982 or 02-6464282.
Shaarei Tzedek -- Jerusalem
With regard to permanent tumoh: Pathology institute
isolated and tumoh-causing material removed from
hospital via special exit rather than via corridors. Morgue
outside hospital building and drainage pipes that pass
through morgue isolated from central drainage system to
prevent tumoh from being transferred via pipelines.
With regard to irregular tumoh: Most of the day there
is a possibility of sof tumoh lotzeis from
gynecological operations and organs from operating rooms on
the second floor. There is also regular tumas ohalim
from expiring patients at an average rate of once every six
hours during the winter and less frequently during the
summer.
For further inquiries contact the rov of the hospital, HaRav
Moshe Peleg, at 02-6666483 (office) or 02-6555721 (fax).
Herzog (Ezrat Nashim) -- Jerusalem
Herzog geriatric hospital has 282 beds with an average of 2-3
deaths per week. Morgue located in separate building. No
pathology institute. Warning sign for kohanim posted
when tumas meis present.
Misgav Ladach (Kupat Cholim Meuchedet) -- Jerusalem
At the former Misgav Ladach surgical center, gynecological
operations are generally performed on Sundays after 4:00 pm
and on other days only in emergencies.
Tumoh-causing material is transferred to special cases
made of cardboard, which cannot be contaminated with
tumoh and contain 40 se'oh, but there is still
a question of sof tumoh lotzeis. Sometimes
tumoh- causing material is left overnight before being
removed, therefore it is recommended kohanim inquire
whether it has been removed before entering. This can be
verified by contacting the director of the surgical center,
Dr. Frankel, at 02-5637684.
Maayenei Hayeshua -- Bnei Brak
With regard to permanent tumoh: Morgue located outside
of hospital building. No pathology institute.
With regard to irregular tumoh: Approximately three
deaths per week during the winter and approximately one death
per day during the summer. (The majority of deaths take place
in Internal Medicine Ward on sixth floor and are transported
via special elevator.)
There are occasional nefolim in the maternity ward and
organ scraping in the operating rooms. They are also removed
using the special elevator.
When tumas meis is present, kohanim are
notified by orally not to enter the ward where the
tumoh is found.
The hospital has special arrangement to allow kohanim
to enter. For details see Glatt, Shearis Yisroel's
general guidebook, Pesach 5763.
Tel Hashomer -- Ramat Gan
With regard to permanent tumoh: Most of the hospital
buildings are connected via underground passages, where there
is a serious concern of tumas meis.
Several wards are completely disconnected from other parts of
the hospital, including the new rehabilitation building, ear,
nose and throat department and psychiatry; generally they do
not involve tumas meis.
The hospice building (Building 32) is also located in a
separate structure, but one should verify no corpses are
present before entering.
The children's ward is still connected to the general
building, along with the parking lot and the bridges, where
there is a great likelihood of tumas meis. Passing
under the bridges also exposes kohanim.
Laniado -- Netanya
With regard to permanent tumoh: Morgue located outside
of hospital. No pathology institute.
With regard to irregular tumoh: In older building, an
average of two deaths per day. Warning sign for
kohanim. In newer building (maternity, gynecology,
surgery) nefolim (in advanced stages) are less
frequent and a warning sign is used when necessary.
Gynecological operations are generally performed Wednesdays
and Thursdays before noon.
For further inquiries contact HaRav Shor at 057-516380 or 09-
8829033 (home).
