Last week the Ahavas Chesed Center of Crown Heights, headed by Rabbi Avrohom Lider, organized a drive to search for a kidney donor for a local Crown Heights resident.
The father of nine is in dire need of a kidney transplant, as his three-times weekly dialysis treatments are no longer effective.
Rabbi Lider brought in an organization called Renewal, which helps Jews that urgently need kidney transplants, matching donors and recipients. The donors are Jews that are ready to donate their kidney, without any compensation, to save a relative or someone else’s life.
Close to 100 people volunteered to be tested to see if they could be the one to save their neighbor’s life.
At the event, Renewal staff explained the process of donating a kidney.
A donor who had recently donated a kidney spoke about how he feels good physically and spiritually, knowing that saving one person is as if he saved the world.
Moshe Steinmetz, one of the heads of the Renewal Organization, expressed his disbelief at the incredible response from the Crown Heights community, and their willingness to donate a kidney to another Jew.
Jews across the spectrum, do allow people to donate a kidney while alive. There is a Jewish website by the way that talks about organ donation after death.
For living kidney donation – if you go to Renewal’s website – Renewal.org they have what Rabbi’s have to say about living kidney donation. Also, on the website, Kidneymitzvah.com – Chaya Lipschutz has an endorsement from a prominent Rabbi – Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser of Brooklyn, who endorsed her kidney donation project. She helps not just Jewish people, but non-Jewish people as well.
Beautiful and heartwarming response, go Crown heights!! could someone answer #8?
Chaya Lipschutz had made Rabbi Simon’s kidney match. She also found a kidney donor for someone else who is connected with Lubavitch. Both she and her brother had donated a kidney. She has a website- Kidneymitzvah.com, that has a lot of information. She has by the way Lubavitch relatives in Crown Heights.
I am a nurse in Cleveland Ohio who works on a transplant floor at the Cleveland Clinic. The quesiton, I thought that we as orthodox jews could not donate organsl. Is a live donation ok but donation at death not? Please explain so that I can better understand, thanks for your help.
Rabbi Steinmetz of Renewal puts Jews in need of kidneys in contact with potential donors. He coordinates the entire procedure from the initial tests to the surgery and recuperation. He does not only deal with the frum community–there are also non-frum Jews in need of kidneys and it’s no less a mitzvah to donate to them.
Its Rabbi “Chaim” Steinmetz that runs the organization and is pictured above. Kol Hakavod to Rabbi Steinmetz and this most amazing organization that has helped countless of families in need.
Reply to comment #1 No, you cannot compare a Bone Marrow transplant to a kidney transplant. Bone marrow is taken from inside the bone of the donor and will regenerate itself. Donating a kidney is permanent removal of an organ that will leave the donor with just one kidney instead of two. Incidentally, bone marrow harvesting was once a painful procedure for the donor. It’s no longer this way as this procedure has been replaced by Stem cell transplant. The donor is hooked intrevenously to a machine that removes stem cells from their blood. Not more painful than a needle.… Read more »
Such Ahavas Yisrael!
He is our role model!!!!!!!
40 people in one community!? That is so truly amazing! Only the yidden! Only the yidden! I am amazed and have a lump in my throat. I hope the father has a complete and total refuah. He will know that that kidney he receives is overflowing in love!
I believe it far more the 40. about 10 years ago, when i donated blood through Ahavas Chassed they were also taking blood samples for a registry/database for bone marrow. is this not the same thing? maybe I’m mixing 2 unrelated things…