Ask The Rabbi... September 3 1994 Issue #33 ========================================================================= This issue is dedicated in memory of R. Eliezer Lipa ben R. Yechezkel Yitzchak Z''L - Rosh Hashana 5704 ========================================================================= The staff of Ask The Rabbi wishes you and your family a Happy & Healthy New Year Rabbi Moshe Newman Lev Seltzer Rabbi Yehoshua Karsh Moshe Yaakov Schwartz ========================================================================= This edition contains: 1. Blood transfusions and chocolate. ========================================================================= Saul Behr from Johannesburg wrote: >Every few months I donate blood at a local blood bank. Because I often >feel weak after donating the blood I make sure to eat or drink something >that is sugary right afterwards. On one recent occasion just after they >had finished drawing the blood I took a bite out of a milchig (dairy) >chocolate bar. While the chocolate was still in my mouth I remembered >that I was fleshig after eating chicken earlier. I reasoned that spitting >out the chocolate would violate the principle of "K'vod Habriot" (human >dignity), and decided to swallow the chocolate quickly instead. Did I do >the right thing? * * * * * * * * * Dear Saul, Three factors are important in determining the answer to your question: 1. The weak feeling after giving blood; 2. How long after eating chicken the chocolate was ingested; and 3. The issue of K'vod Habriot. I spoke to Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg regarding your question and he said that the minimum waiting period after eating meat is one hour, although, according to many customs, it is customary to wait longer. (This is true regarding both poultry and red meat). Since the weakness you felt constitutes a health hazard, a one hour wait would be sufficient. However, if you ate the chicken within an hour of the chocolate, the proper proceedure is to swallow a little of the chocolate so as not to make a Bracha L'vatalah (blessing in vain) and then spit the rest out into a tissue or handkerchief, thereby upholding the principle of K'vod Habriot. By the way, throwing away the rest of the chocolate bar constitutes wasting, so find someone who is not fleishig, and offer it to him, or save it for later. Although some say the following joke is in poor taste, I will share it with you anyway because it is related to the topic of eating and K'vod Habriot. Social scientists developed a technique for taking young sociopaths and refining their characters so that they could function in normal society. To prove the effectiveness of their technique they chose a particularly extreme case and applied their method to him. The results were more than they could have hoped for; he became a modest, erudite and courteous young man. The time eventually came to present their case study to jury of their peers. The subject performed wonderfully, answering all of the questions thoughtfully and with poise. The final question was carefully chosen and the questioner was genuinely curious as to his response. "Is man good or bad?" All waited anxiously as he thought for a moment. "Man is actually not that bad, I prefer mine lightly roasted and with a bit of salt." Sources: Pitchei Teshuva - Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, 87. ========================================================================= -> Get Ready for the Ohr Somayach Winter JLE <- 3 weeks of study and touring (Departure December 22) Minimum scholarship price: $599 Covers round trip ticket, room, board, tuition and tours Contact Rabbi Zalman Corlin for details ========================================================================= Ohr Somayach Institutions is proud to present: ROSH HASHANAH 5755 Two essays by Ohr Somayach Rabbis: The Concept of Teshuva, by Rabbi Michoel Schoen Beginnings..., by Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz This file is available from the following sources: o The Jerusalem1 Gopher under the heading "Religious Institutions" and the sub-heading "Ohr Somayach" o CompuServe Religion Forum, Judaism Library (2), filename OSROSH.TXT ========================================================================= Dedication opportunities are available for Ask the Rabbi. Please contact us for details. ========================================================================= Jewish L EEEEEEEE Prepared by Ohr Somayach Institutions J L E 22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103 J L Exchange Jerusalem 91180, Israel J J L E Tel: 02-810315 Fax: 02-812890 JJJJ Learning EEEEEEEE Internet: ohr@jer1.co.il ========================================================================= (C) 1994 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission.