Death Definition

Igros Moshe (YD III #132) The definition of when a person is dead is stated explicitly in the gemora (Yoma 85a) in the case where a person is buried under a pile of rubble. It says he can be dug out even on Shabbos and then his nostrils are examined to determine if he is still breathing. Rambam and Shulchan Aruch rule that  if breathing is not detected he is considered dead. Thus we determine death by the absence of breathing. Even if the breathing is very slight he is considered alive. This can readily be determined with the aid of a feather placed near the nostrils. If the feather or a small piece of paper doesn’t move at all, he is presumed dead. Nevertheless he should be examined a number of times as I have explained previously to ensure he hasn’t just fainted because it is impossible to live without breathing. This test is valid only if the person is under constant watching. However since this is not realistic and it is possible he regained his strength a bit and was able to briefly get a few weak breathes it is impossible to properly determine death except by repeated testing. If these tests reveal there is no breathing at all than that is a sign the person is dead. This is more fully discussed by the Chasam Sofer. This is also relevant with the typical sick person who is close to dying, but is not dependent on a respirator. However there are many sick people who can not breathe without a respirator. Thus it is possible with a respirator to continue breathing even after death and these people are not considered alive.  If it is not clear that he is alive from other indicators e.,g. he doesn’t respond even if stabbed with a needle such as being in a state known as a coma. Then as long as the respirator is working it is prohibited to remove it from his mouth because he might be alive and by the removal he is being killed. However when the respirator stops working for example when the oxygen tanks are depleted, it is not required to put him back on the respirator when it starts working for a period of 15 minutes. If he is no longer alive as seen by the absence of breathing then it means he has died. IKn contrast if he is living as can be seen from the fact that he is breathing even without the respirator even if it is with difficulty and interruptions then he should be returned to the respirator immediately. This should be done a number of times until his condition improves or it is apparent that he can’t breathe on his own  and is dead. 

Igros Moshe (YD II #146) This that doctors say that the sign of of whether a person is alive or dead is in the brain In other words if according to their evaluation of a person if his brain is not working properly then he is considered that he is dead even though he is still breathing. You discuss this at length and try to refute this claim. You also say that the brain does not mean the brain stem at the top of the spine which you claim is irrelevant to this issue. I don’t understand your point. Since you are referring to the brain stem at the top of the spine in your discussion of the gemora in Chullin while the doctors are referring to the brain in the head. Furthermore the gemora is describing a case of where the brain stem is detached while the brain itself remains intact and healthy. If in fact the brain decomposes the animal is a treifa. Similarly if the brain dissolves and flows like water. Even though in general the status of treifa is because eventually the brain cover will be perforated, nevertheless the status of treifa occurs for other conditions both the actual brain and the brain stem. Thus it is possible to say like the doctors if the damage prevents the body from functioning properly it means death. Nevertheless it is certainly true that the brain stopping from  working is not what we define as death since as long as there is breathing he is considered alive. It just means that when the brain stops working it will lead to death which is defined as the cessation of breathing. It is possible that since such a person is still alive and that there are known or yet to be discovered medicines that will restore the function of the brain. It is also possible in this case to pray to G-d to cure him. Thus he has the status of a seriously ill person whose life is in danger but he is not considered dead. If he were dead it would be prohibited to pray for him since it is considered a meaningless and worthless prayer. It is also obvious that anyone who killed such a person is considered a murderer and is subject to the death penalty. All this is because there is no mention in the classic sources of the gemora and poskim that the brain status determines whether the person is considered alive. It is not relevant to claim that nature has changed in this issue because even in Talmudic times the brain functioned then as it does now and all of man’s functioning depended on it. Nevertheless it was not considered that the person was considered dead with the cessation of functioning of the brain and so today we don’t either. 

Heart Transplants are Murder!

Igros Moshe (YD II #174) Question Heart transplant from another person – a new procedure that a number of Doctors are now starting to do. Answer I don’t want to show a lot of proofs and analysis because all those who add analysis and proofs are simply making the issue worse. That is because it seems to be saying that proofs are needed since it is a complicated matter. As a consequence it will lead to leniencies when some of the proofs are refuted even though the proofs were not genuine. Thus they serve to weaken the case against transplants because people will conclude it is simply a matter disputed by great authorities and it is legitimate to choose either side.  G-d forbid!. Therefore I will respond to this issue in this letter in a clear ruling clearly and absolutely and will avoid all dialectics and analysis  stating unambiguously that this procedure of heart transplants that doctors have recently started to do is simply the killing of two people. The doctors are killing with their own hands the one who is donating the heart since he is still alive not only according the Torah for which it is a capital crime , but also according to the doctors since there are some who are truthful and say the donor is alive when the heart is removed. However because of their wickedness they are not interested in preserving the donor’s life because he is not expected to live much longer anyway.  In addition they are killing with their own hands the recipient  who can live for many more years sometimes even for decades with his heart condition. It is well established that heart disease patients can live long lives. This that a heart transplant is done  results in the deaths of the donor and recipient in a short time sometimes even hours. Others linger for a few days.  While it is true there is a case in Africa that the recipient is still alive after 6 months, nevertheless the consensus is that it is impossible for him to continue living.  It is astounding that countries around the world permit the evil doctors to kill two people since it is known that  neither typically lives. Therefore the governments should punish these doctors who are literally murderers even though the patient consents. The agreement is a mistake because of the seduction of the evil doctors.  Beside that a person is not allowed t to kill himself. My response to this question  should be publicized without modifying my language

Republicans fear Florida election upset could threaten Trump's agenda

 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c209jxv77rjo

"Their 2025 agenda stops here," he promised, railing against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's efforts to slash government services and personnel.

Just an hour earlier, in a telephone town hall meeting, Randy Fine, his Republican opponent in Tuesday's special election, had a similar message – although he framed it as a warning, not a promise.

"Democrats are mad," he said. "They're going to do whatever it takes to grind Donald Trump's agenda to a halt."

To this end, some of the party's heaviest hitters stepped in to help. Last Thursday, Trump joined the Republican candidate in two telephone town hall events. On Monday night, Florida Congressman Byron Donalds and conservative commentator Ben Shapiro held their own event.

"Donald Trump's agenda is hanging by a thread," Shapiro said. "This is a district that simply cannot fall into Democratic hands."

Delta to resume flights to Israel Tuesday

 https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/03/31/delta-to-resume-flights-to-israel-tuesday/

Delta Airlines is set to resume its operations to Israel tomorrow (Tuesday), with the first flight scheduled to land in the country on Wednesday morning. The American carrier will operate daily flights on the New York-Tel Aviv route.

The airline will use the Airbus A330-900neo aircraft for these direct flights, providing approximately 2,000 seats weekly according to company announcements.

Delta becomes the second American airline to return to Israel, following United Airlines which resumed operations about two weeks ago. United has since doubled its service and now operates two daily flights to Israel. Following Delta's anticipated return, four airlines will be offering direct flights between New York and Tel Aviv: El Al, Arkia, United, and Delta.

Joe Rogan Splits From Trump on ‘Horrific’ Deportations

https://www.thedailybeast.com/joe-rogan-on-horrific-trump-deportations-lets-not-get-innocent-gay-hairdressers-lumped-up-with-the-gangs/

“That’s bad for the cause,” Rogan added. “The cause is: Let’s get the gang members out. Everybody agrees. But let’s not get innocent gay hairdressers lumped up with the gangs?”

“How long before that guy can get out? Can we figure out how to get them out? Is there any plan in place to alert the authorities that they’ve made a horrible mistake and correct it?” Rogan said, prompting his guest, political commentator Konstantin Kisin, to reply that the government isn’t likely to admit that it may have made a mistake.

“That’s the thing about politics, right? Never admit your fault. Never admit you’re wrong,” Kisin said.

“It’s so dumb,” Rogan said. “And this is the thing we’re seeing with the Signal thing, and this is the thing we’re seeing with this. It’s like, I don’t know if it’s been brought to their attention.

“I mean, I would assume someone’s alerted them to the fact that they might have rounded up this just random hairdresser and accused him of being a gang member,” he continued.

Why Trump’s Brattish Mini-Me Has MAGA Fearing They’ll Lose a Lay-Up

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-trumps-brattish-mini-me-randy-fine-has-republicans-in-fear-of-losing-easy-election/ 

The Democratic Party may be in disarray and largely leaderless, but many individual Americans are alarmed and outraged by the autocratic actions of the new administration. Key Lime used texts rather than mailers and online videos more than TV ads to trigger more personal responses and it raised $9.5 million for Weil. (It had a hiccup when it clashed with two prominent Democrats—Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg—over the unauthorized use of their voices in their ads, but that did little to stop the cash coming in.)

But the little bucks also point to what appears to be the second major factor in changing the race from a cinch into a maybe; Randy Fine himself. Not even a Trump endorsement can make this former Nevada casino consultant into an actually appealing candidate once his petty and choleric aspects become apparent. Those same qualities are forgiven on a large scale with Trump, but a mini-Donald just becomes a vituperative, vengeful brat.

Why do US Jews leave Orthodoxy? A new study tries to map out the reasons

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/why-do-us-jews-leave-orthodoxy-a-new-study-tries-to-map-out-the-reasons/

A new survey of American Jews who have left Orthodox Judaism asks tough questions of the community as it describes the complicated web of factors causing people to leave the fold.

Published by the Orthodox Union (OU), one of the Orthodox world’s most prominent organizations, the survey’s conclusions call for synagogues and schools to adopt more inclusive mindsets, for rabbis to look out for children on the fringes and for parents to establish clear expectations with love and support.

One of the study’s biggest surprises was that many of the surveyed individuals who left Orthodoxy remain connected to the community.

Secular studies in spare time in a superficial Manner

 Igros Moshe (YD IV #36.16) Question Those yeshiva students who desire to study medicine or other secular subjects in spare moments during the day in a superficial manner Answer I don’t see any problem with this as long as it doesn’t interfere with their Torah study schedule in yeshiva. This is not required but is merely permitted as long as it it a simple survey of the material without great effort or depth in spare time because it is viewed as pleasurable and perhaps useful. 

Those who are not capable of growth in Torah learning but are interested in Secular Studies

 Igros Moshe (YD IV #36.16) Question You ask about how to deal with those who are not capable of growing in Torah either because they lack the intelligence or because of laziness? Answer. Obviously it is not relevant to require them to learn as I wrote that the bnei Torah is required. It would be appropriate to teach them a skill that is most appropriate to their nature. Even if this largely interferes with their Torah learning to prepare them for this work. The Yavetz lists in his siddur those things that a person who can not learn a lot of Torah must be taught. If he is fit for learning engineering or medicine it is appropriate that he learn it as long as he can learn without being taught heresy and in classes without girls. It is best if the program is under rabbinical supervision.

Rav Ovadiah is watching you from Heaven! Hashgocha Protis

US Dollar Down, Global Stocks Plunge Ahead of Trump's Looming Tariffs:

 https://www.newsweek.com/us-dollar-down-global-stocks-plunge-ahead-trumps-looming-tariffs-live-updates-2052993

Stock markets around the world tumbled on Monday ahead of Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" on Wednesday, which will impose a slew of tariffs on "all countries."

The Dow fell 292 points, or 0.6%, in pre-market trading, while the S&P dropped 0.9% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq was down 1.3%. Monday marks the end of an uncertain month for the market. The S&P 500 nearly hit correction territory in March as it dropped 9.2% below its all-time high, and is set to end the month down by more than 6%.

The US dollar has also had its biggest drop in years as it fell by 3.5%, a fall not seen since November 2023.

RFK Jr. Is Already Vindicating His Critics

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/rfk-jr-david-geier-vaccines-autism-hhs-cdc-health-trump-administration-policy-184c242f?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

Shrinking HHS makes sense, but giving power to antivaccine crusader David Geier doesn’t.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been secretary of Health and Human Services for all of six weeks, but he’s already vindicating his critics. First he downplayed a measles outbreak in Texas. Then he reportedly hired a trial-lawyer ally to work on a government study of the link between vaccines and autism. Now he has pushed out a top Food and Drug Administration official because he helped accelerate approval of the Covid vaccines.

Mr. Kennedy grabbed headlines on Thursday by proposing to consolidate sundry HHS agencies and cut 20,000 jobs. The bloated department could use some shrinking. Most of his plan, such as refocusing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on its core mission of preparing for and responding to infectious disease outbreaks, isn’t radical.

Mike Waltz Used Signal for More Sensitive National Security Chats:

 https://www.newsweek.com/mike-waltz-used-signal-more-sensitive-national-security-chats-report-2052875

 U. S. national security adviser Mike Waltz used the Signal messaging app to host other sensitive discussions with Cabinet members, The Wall Street Journal has reported, citing two unnamed officials.

Among those discussions were threads on brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine, and military operations, according to the Journal.

Bnei Torah – Those who left yeshiva Should be Viewed as Bnei Torah So they will not become worse?

Igros Moshe (YD IV #36. 15) Question: This that you objected to my statement that all those who leave yeshiva for secular studies in college even if they are still fully observant are not considered Bnei Torah. You objected because it means all those who are involved in earning a living by going to college will give up trying to grow in Torah learning if they are not considered Bnei Torah. Answer. I am surprised that you don’t view leaving yeshiva as being more deleterious than not being called a Ben Torah. People will say that if everyone is considered a Ben Torah and Talmid Chachom even those who have left yeshiva for secular studies than why should those remaining in yeshiva exert themselves in Torah and fear of G-d.  This concern is found in the gemora (Menachos 99b) that even through the daily reciting of Shma in the morning and evening a person fulfills the obligation to spend his time in Torah study, nevertheless the gemora concludes that it is prohibited to teach this to the ignorant. Rashi says because they might think the minimum is sufficient and they won’t try harder. It is even worse if the talmidei chachomim think that. .  In fact I am simply saying the facts a person who does not devote himself totally to Torah study is not a ben Torah.  Those who go to medical school they want to be not only doctors but they want the honor of also being viewed as bnei Torah? If in fact he is a godol in Torah than of course he should be described as such even if there is concern that others will imitate him and leave yeshiva thinking they can also have both.  This that you write that there are many businessmen who place the majority of their efforts into Torah study so why shouldn’t they be viewed as bnei Torah? I have already stated that they while are obviously good Jews they are not bnei Torah since all their efforts are not directed at Torah.  It was only the Jews in the wilderness and that generation that entered Israel with Yehoshua as well as the generation of Chezkiyahu that all were bnei Torah. Even in the time of Dovid and Shlomo not all were bnei Torah. Even in the time of Chezkiyahu only two of the tribes were bnei Torah. 

This reminds me of a chance encounter I had with a kiruv rabbi during a stop over in the Paris airport. He said "I can not forgive the rabbis and roshei yeshiva who tell everyone that they will become a gadol when in fact only a few have the ability. 

The head of the Diaspora yeshiva Rav Goldstein related that he was once in America raising money for his yeshiva and he met Rav Moshe. Rav Moshe asked him “How are you doing?” He responded byrelating a list of his medical problems. Rav Moshe said I wasn’t asking about your health, I was asking whether you had some real concerns in understanding a Rashi or Tosfos.