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JUDAISM DISCOVERED 177 MICHAEL HOFFMAN
payment; nor must one fear hostility, even when (such help involves) no
desecration of the sabbath.' The Shulhan Arukh decrees likewise.
Nevertheless, this sort of excuse could not always be relied upon to do the trick
and avert Gentile hostility. Therefore certain important rabbinical authorities
had to relax the rules to some extent and allowed Jewish doctors to treat
Gentiles on the sabbath even if this involved doing certain types of work
normally banned on that day. This partial relaxation applied particularly to
rich and powerful Gentile patients, who could not be fobbed off so easily and
whose hostility could be dangerous. Thus, R. Yo'el Sirkis, author of Bayit
Hadash and one of the greatest rabbis of his time (Poland, 17th century),
decided that 'mayors, petty nobles and aristocrats' should be treated on the
sabbath, because of the fear of their hostility which involves 'some danger.' But
in other cases, especially when the Gentile can be fobbed off with an evasive
excuse, a Jewish doctor would commit 'an unbearable sin' by treating him on
the sabbath.'
"... All this is far from being a dead issue. The most up-to-date halakhic
position on these matters is contained in a recent concise and authoritative
book published in English under the title Jewish Medical Law. This book,
which bears the imprint of the prestigious Israeli foundation Mossad Harav
Kook, is based on the response of R. Eli'ezer Yehuda Waldenberg, Chief
Justice of the Rabbinical District Court of Jerusalem. A few passages of this
work deserve special mention. First, 'it is forbidden to desecrate the
sabbath... for a Karaite.' This is stated bluntly, absolutely and without any
further qualification. Presumably the hostility of this small sect makes no
difference, so they should be allowed to die rather than be treated on the
sabbath. As for Gentiles: 'According to the ruling stated in the Talmud and
Codes of Jewish Law, it is forbidden to desecrate the Sabbath — whether
violating Biblical or rabbinic law — in order to save the life of a dangerously
ill gentile patient. It is also forbidden to deliver the baby of a gentile women
on the Sabbath.' But this is qualified by a dispensation: 'However, today it is
permitted to desecrate the Sabbath on behalf of a Gentile by performing
actions prohibited by rabbinic law, for by so doing one prevents ill feelings
from arising between Jew and Gentile." 144
144 Shahak, Jewish History, Jewish Religion (op. cit.), chapter 5 (emphasis supplied).