IDF Soldier receives American kidney

October 31, 2007

Before Yosef Chiger, a 35-year-old American Jew from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, registered as a donor with HODS, he was not aware that a living person could donate a kidney. He thought donated organs were only taken from the dead. “I am ecstatic,” he said in a phone interview before his trip to Israel. “It is important for me that she [Ayelet] is an Israeli, and the fact that she was a soldier and only 19 years old means that hopefully she has a long life ahead of her, and this will help her.”

HODS was established in 2001 and has encouraged 38 donations by Jewish people for the general population. Most of Orthodox Judaism frown on donating organs from a dead body as they consider it defiling the body. However, halacha (Jewish law) does not forbid organ donation after death. In fact, saving a life takes precedence over all other laws.

On August 13, Yosef and Ayelet made the kidney transfer. After Ayelet recovers, she plans to return to military service with the army. At the time of publication, it was too early to give a conclusive report on the results of the operation. Pray for Ayelet’s speedy recovery and look for a follow-up report in our next Dispatch. For more information about organ donation, go to www.hods.org or write [email protected].

By Charleeda Sprinkle, Assistant Editor

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