JEWISH TELEGRAPH ONLINE - Letters to the Editor

Medical muddle

AFTER reading Rabbi Chaim Kanterovitz's longwinded and, I would say, ill-informed response to the question of whether or not to fast on medical grounds, I was delighted to see the professional reply from Dr Sonia Goldrein in last week's Jewish Telegraph.

I would not attempt to usurp the rabbi's halachic knowledge. However, on what basis does he feel qualified to tell a congregant to see a doctor or a rabbi on this question? This is total and utter nonsense.

As Dr Goldrein pointed out, there are medical and physiological reasons why certain medicines should be taken with water.

Even without this medical analysis, any sane person should always seek a fully qualified medical opinion.

I also think the Jewish Telegraph needs to look at whether it should allow a rabbi to give medical advice like this in his weekly column.

What next? A cholesterol testing service at the shul? You couldn't make it up.

Steve Bernstein,
6 Baron Green,
Heald Green,
Cheshire.

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