By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com] STABBINGS In light of the recent shootings in Bnei Brak and stabbings in Be’er Sheva and in Hadeira,r”l – a halachic question arises: IS THERE AN OBLIGATION TO LEARN FIRST AID? Is there an obligation to actually learn how to treat a gunshot and stabbing victim? This article is going to take a view that is different than what seems to be the accepted halachic position in some of the contemporary Poskim. RAV FEINSTEIN’S VIEW ON MEDICAL SCHOOL AND KOHANIM In a response dealing with Kohanim studying medicine, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l (Igros Moshe YD II #151 and YD III #155) writes that the parameters of Pikuach Nefesh do not require someone to go out and gain new knowledge at a medical school. Rav Feinstein writes that only if one knows what to do must one stop whatever he is doing to save a life. However, there is no obligation to actually go out and learn and acquire new knowledge that can be applied into the future. Some contemporary Poskim have applied Rav Moshe’s psak to other forms of medical training as well. DOES IT APPLY TO FIRST AID TOO? The application of this ruling of Rav Feinstein to first aid, however, may not be the case. Rav Feinstein also brings up the notion that there are enough doctors in the world. Our situation, however, may be vastly different. For stabbing victims, seconds count, and there are actually not enough trained people out there to know what to do until medical assistance arrives. PROOFS With due respect, I would like to suggest that there may be a significant distinction between a long medical course of study and a shorter course of study for basic first aid. There are also a number of other Mitzvos that could and should be fulfilled in learning first aid procedures. There may also be a fascinating Kal VaChomer, fortiori argument, from a halacha in Shulchan Aruch. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 328:2) writes in regard to whether a life-saving procedure is permitted on the Shabbos, “Hashoel – harei zeh megunah – one who asks a question – this is a disgusting thing.” The guilt and blame is also ascribed to the Rabbi, who should have taught the laws of what may or not be done on the Shabbos. Regardless, we see that there is an obligation to teach the halachos of what may or not be done. Would it not be a kal vachomer that if the actual procedures of what can be done were just as easily taught – that one would be obligated to do so? The possible arguments to this are: A] The obligation here in the Shulchan Aruch (OC 328:2) is a form of Torah instruction – the actual first aid knowledge, however, is not Torah. B] It could be that the first aid knowledge is more complex than the halachic knowledge that is under discussion. There is significant room, however, to disagree with these arguments. The author of Hatzalah K’halacha (Siman 1) cites the Rambam in Hilchos Deos (4:23) writes that it is forbidden for a Talmid Chochom to reside in an area where there is no doctor. It may be conjectured that there, in fact, might be an obligation to go beyond the general […]

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