By the Grace of G-d 12th of Cheshvan, 5735 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

Your letter reached me with considerable delay.

Although it is not my province to pasken shaalos, I will make an exception in your case, inasmuch as your questions concern important aspects.

Your first question is whether a Jew would be permitted according to Jewish Law, to bequeath his vital organs for persons in need. The answer is that this is strictly forbidden by the Torah, called Toras Chaim, being the Jew’s true guide in life.

Your second question is whether you would be allowed to donate a kidney for a transplant to a friend who is presently in need of it. Here the question depends on a number of factors and you ought to address your question to a competent Rov, preferably the Union of Orthodox Rabbis, to whom you could explain in detail all the factors involved. As mentioned above, it is not my province to pasken shaalos.

Needless to say, I was impressed by your deep feeling to help your fellow man. This gives me the confidence that you are equally concerned for the spiritual well-being of your friends and are trying to help them through bringing them closer to true Yiddishkeit and the observance of mitzvos in the daily life. All the more so since it has been seen how readily Jews respond to such an approach so long as it is done with sincerity and affection.

With blessing,