Issue Number 14 --- 19 Shevat, 5755
Compiled and Published by Kollel Menachem - Lubavitch (Melbourne, Australia)
in the zechus of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, o.b.m.
The following issues are discussed in relation to the Rabbinic prohibition (gezeira) on taking medication on Shabbos.
Rashi [1] gives the following explanation of the prohibition on taking medication on Shabbos. Were one allowed to take medication - in those days principally ground herbs - the ill person himself or an onlooker could mistakenly conclude that it is permitted to prepare the medication on Shabbos by grinding up herbs. Grinding herbs, however, is a form of work prohibited on Shabbos.
Patients may be divided into the following categories according to the severity of the illness:
1. Life threatening illness: A person with a definite - or even a possibly - life threatening illness must be treated, even if this involves setting aside Torah prohibitions. The Talmud infers this from the verse "You shall live by these laws": one must live, not die, as a result of observing Torah laws. The Rabbinical prohibition does not apply in such a case.
2. Not dangerously ill: A person who is not dangerously ill is halachically defined as one whose entire body is weakened from pain or who is bedridden due to illness. Included in this category are those with a fever above 38 degrees C and those with asthma or severe migraine. People in this category are permitted to take medication. Young children are accorded all the leniencies of a person in this category. "Young children" is variously defined by different poskim as children up to the ages of 2, 6, or 9. A Rabbi should be consulted for a practical ruling.
3. Moderate distress or pain: A person with moderate pain, but who is not so unwell that his entire body feels weakened, is prohibited from taking medication by the Shulchan Aruch. There are those who have suggested some leniencies nowadays (see below).
4. Minor ailment : A minor ailment, such as a mildly sore throat, may not be treated with medication on Shabbos. However, foods, which people consume also when healthy - such as tea and honey may be taken to soothe a sore throat - may be taken to alleviate the discomfort.
The prohibition of taking medications on Shabbos was a precaution against grinding herbs for medication. Does this apply nowadays when the likelihood of grinding herbs to produce medicines is remote?
In general when Chazal instituted a decree it was intended to be permanent and to stand in full force even when the reason for the prohibition was no longer applicable. A foundation for this was found in the Torah. Jewish husbands and wives were commanded to separate for three days in preparation for receiving the Torah. Once the Torah had been received - and separation was therefore no longer necessary - one would have assumed it would be automatically permitted for men and women to resume normal relations. Nevertheless, the Torah specifically commanded "Return to your tents", implying that the original prohibition was still in force even though the reason for it was no longer applicable.
The Toras Chesed [2] in a lengthy discussion about Rabbinical gezeiros shows that if a gezeira initially promulgated in such a way that it applied only in certain situations, then, where those situations do not exist, the gezeira does not apply.
The Ktzos HaShulchan [3] suggests that this applies to the gezeira against medication. There were certain exceptions to the gezeira when it was originally established, such as the permission to eat certain types of food (eg. tea and honey) - normally eaten by healthy people - to alleviate an ailment. The Rabbis thereby indicated that in situations like this, where there was no likelihood of coming to grind herbs, they relaxed their gezeira. Indeed, if there were no likelihood of people coming to grind herbs the prohibition against taking medication would be nullified. Since, however, even nowadays there were some places where home remedies were prepared, he ruled that the Rabbinic gezeira stands but with some leniency. That is, if a patient himself is unsure how unwell he is - whether in category 2, where medication is permitted, or in category 3 where medication is prohibited - he may be lenient and take medication.
The Rabbis frequently relaxed their decrees in situations of pain and discomfort. Since however, all illnesses involve distress and discomfort to some degree, illness is an exception, and the prohibition on taking medication applies even in cases of pain.
The Tzitz Eliezer [4], however, suggests a leniency. There is a disorder described in the Talmud [5] involving a membrane near the heart which caused pain if it was out of position. Its treatment involved manipulating the membrane back into place. It was permitted to perform the manipulation on Shabbos - only in cases of distress - because the treatment never involved taking medication so that there was no risk of grinding herbs for medicines on Shabbos. The Tzitz Eliezer notes that two considerations permitted treating this condition: first, the presence of pain and, secondly, the fact that there was no risk of grinding herbs for medications. He suggests that nowadays also although the prohibition against taking medication in general stands, it is permitted to take medication for moderate pain (category 3) since the possibility of grinding herbs for its treatment is remote. He rules, however, that it is still prohibited to take medication for minor ailments (category 4).
Shmiras Shabbos Kehilchoso [6] and other latter day authorities reject this leniency.
In the household of the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe medication was taken for headache.
Similarly the Minchas Elozor [7] is said to have permitted taking aspirin for headache. Again there are other authorities which are stringent in this regard.
Reb Moshe Feinstein [8] forbids continuing a course of medication on Shabbos unless interrupting the course would lead to one's entire body being weakened by illness (bringing one into category 2).
Reb Shlomo Kluger [9] is lenient and the Shmiras Shabbos Kehilchoso rules accordingly that courses of tablets if begun before Shabbos may be continued on Shabbos.
Note: Courses of medication involving a once-a-day dosage can sometimes be taken before Shabbos on Friday and after Shabbos on Saturday.
The Rabbinic prohibition against taking medication is still in force today. It applies mainly to those people with minor ailments, or with moderate pain or distress who were not bedridden or totally weakened by their illness. There are lenient opinions that nowadays one may take medication for headache or to relieve moderate pain - but all opinions prohibit treating minor ailments with any form of medication. Courses of medication which were commenced before Shabbos may be continued on Shabbos. Some authorities stipulate that this applies only if there is a genuine risk of illness through interruption of the course of treatment.
[1] Shabbos 53b
[2] Responsa 17:6
[3] 134, Badei HaShulchan 7
[4] VIII 15:15
[5] Avoda Zoro 29a
[6] 34:4
[7] mentioned in Shiurim Metzuyonim BaHalocho 91:3
[8] Orach Chayim II 53
[9] Sefer HaChayim 328:6
The above is not intended to decide halachic questions, but rather to clarify them in a clear and concise form. Please refer all your practical questions to your local Rabbi.
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