In a most impressive gathering attended by members of the Vaad Halochoh in the home of HaRav Chaim Kanievsky and headed by him, a new Vaad Halochoh for Hospitals was created.
A partial list of issues connected to hospitals was discussed, after which HaRav Menachem Mendel Lubin spoke about the great need of establishing such a Vaad, especially in light of modern technology which presents many problems. He stressed the great necessity of uniting the rabbonim to act accordingly.
There is need to find suitable solutions to the spectrum of subjects which the Torah-observant public encounters in hospitals, both with Shabbos — such as security inspection on entry, different medical devices activated by electricity used by patients who are not in life-threatening situations, electric eye automatic doors, some of which ignite a red light upon approach. Then there are problems of yichud in x-ray chambers, purity for kohanim and many other subjects.
These are precisely the reasons why the Vaad is being established, under the presidency and blessings of HaRav Chaim and the blessings of many central halachic bodies, supervised by HaRav Yisroel Ganz; HaRav Menachem Mendel Lubin; HaRav Shlomo Zaafrani; HaRav Moshe Shaul Klein and HaRav Shmuel Eliezer Stern, each of them represented in the Vaad.
It is important to note that all of the activities of this Vaad Halacha are undertaken with full cooperation of the hospital rabbonim and administrators of medical centers, as the importance of these activities increases concurrently with technological development. Thus, for example, a problem arose when digital activation of faucets in the wards and lavatories was being planned to assist those patients who don't have aides by their sides.
Much effort has been invested lately in order to encompass the sum of updated information regarding all the hospitals throughout the country. Rabbonim, kashrus supervisors and Shabbos supervisors in the various hospitals have supplied the necessary data to rabbonim who can deal with the various problems.
Member of the Vaad, HaRav Yisroel Meir Raz, tells that part of the purposes of the Vaad is to make necessary access of vital information to the public. To this goal, a pamphlet of instructions and updated guidance is being published including all halachic and technical information involving hospitals to be distributed for free in shuls and hospitals throughout the country.
The Vaad has also opened a hot line for halachic issues: 08-8044555 where one can leave a message regarding all halachic pitfalls. Such announcements can also be sent by FAX to 08-8003536.
