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From: rib@edsel.UUCP (RI Block)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Ann Landers on Judaism
Message-ID: <263@edsel.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 6-Aug-84 11:08:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: edsel.263
Posted: Mon Aug  6 11:08:05 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 8-Aug-84 07:50:41 EDT
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Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Piscataway
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On this day before the commemoration of the destruction of the
Temple, I am somewhat troubled by the causeless enmity which seems
to have surrounded the discussion of the Ann Landers article.

I have stayed out of the fray because I thought that I contribute heat
rather than light. Nevertheless, the statement:

	I hope you never hurt yourself on Shabbat and
	can't call an ambulance because your too damn
	stubborn to use the phone to save your own life.

is so incorrect, that is must be publically rebutted.

When human life is at stake, even if the peril is only potential,
any and all means at hand may be used on the Sabbath to aid
the individual.

The list of possible citations of this long established principle
is almost without end. For example, the RAMBAM (Maimonedes) points
out that when desecration of the Sabbath is indicated for saving life,
it should performed leading members of the community and not relegated
to minors so that the primary importance of saving life be well publicized.

The list of injuries for which normal Sabbath prohibitions
may be freely overriden is larger than generally recognized and
according to most orthodox authorities include fever, bleeding,
unexplained internal pain, objects in eyes, and even splinters in fingers.

Of course, the proper response is conditioned by the gravity of the
situation, and where there is no immediate urgency, sabbatical prohibitions
are overriden to minimum extent needed. But the time following an accident,
or sudden sickness is no time to consult the literature on what is permissible,
the needs of the one stricken take priority until after such time as one
is sure that there is no danger to life. Even in this case (of one
who is in no  danger 'Holeh sh'ain bo sakanah') there are many leniencies
permitted for the comfort of a sick person.

Many, if not most, consider the use of the telephone to involve rabbinic
rather than biblical prohibitions. It is hard to think of any case where
using the telephone as the fastest way to summon aid would not be the
preferred way.