The halakhic chapter of ovarian transplantation

Abstract

The field of contemporary medical halacha has clearly earned its place as a bona fide specialty. With the plethora of articles appearing in halakhic periodicals, and the ever-increasing list of independent treatises on medical halakhic topics, the field can no longer be said to be in its infancy. Yet, there is an important dimension of medical halakhic research that remains largely unexplored-the interface between medical history and medical halakha. Halakha, by definition, is a precedent-based system. In solving modern medical halakhic dilemmas, rabbinic authorities invariably draw on halakhic material, often medical in nature, from previous generations, in which the medical and scientific knowledge may have differed radically from ours. While the principles of halakha have remained unchanged throughout history, scientific understanding has evolved. It is therefore incumbent upon us to appreciate these earlier sources in their proper medical historical context in order to optimally apply them to modern dilemmas. (from Introduction)