6034 – A Present with a Future! -

A. One issue dealt with by poskim is the prohibition against wounding oneself.

Mori Verabi Horav Hag. Rav Moishe Feinstein Zichrono Livracha, in a letter reprinted in Igros Moshe (Choshen Mishpat 1- 103) says that it is permissible to donate blood even though there is no known recipient now. It includes also a case where the donor gets paid for his donation. Part of his reasoning is that bloodletting, can actually also benefit the blood donor, and probably does in fact benefit him, albeit slightly.

Note that Mori Rav Moishe Feinstein Zichrono Livracha, was dealing with the case he was presented, where the donor was also paid, etc, and should not necessarily be construed as forbidding other cases.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a