A Chinese-language international TV station recently broadcast a news item on Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv's adamant prohibition of Jews deriving any benefit from Chinese organ harvesting, even in life-threatening situations, the Jerusalem Post reports.
Rabbi Elyashiv, one of the most respected halachic authorities alive, ruled recently that it is forbidden to use organs harvested from members of the Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that is being persecuted by the Chinese Communist regime.
"It is a desecration of God's name to use organs taken from political prisoners. Even in life-threatening cases it is forbidden to receive treatment, especially the chosen people, the Jewish people, who are commanded 'do not murder.' They must not travel to China to get an organ transplant."The broadcasting of this unequivocal Jewish ruling on organ trafficking constitutes a great Kiddush Hashem.
