Altruism is alive and well among the people of Israel – are you considering donating an organ? are you wondering what the Torah has to say about saving another persons life?
Any encompassing approach to the specifics of organ donations should include the Mishna (Horiyot 3 8) telling us matter-of-factly that there is a seder – an order when giving – or facilitating the giving of – the gift of life. Here are the words of the Mishnah;
A kohen precedes levi, a levi precedes a yisroel, a yisroel precedes a mamzer, a mamzer precedes a nethin, a nethin precedes a ger, and a ger precedes a freed bondsman,
Halachic order for the gift of life
The mishnah teaches us about the sequence of importance when saving a life (i.e. donating organs); a kohen precedes a levi, and levi precedes a yisroel – any form or formula advertising any other sequence of events would be hard-pressed to try and skew this mishnah, what is apparently a quite-clear and decisive mishnah studied by Jews the world over for over two millenia.
The above is buttressed with the positive mitzvah of וקדשתו, sanctifying the kohen. The logic of the mishnah is explained along the lines of the sanctity of a person in terms of their Godly obligations to perform the mitzvot. A kohen has more biblical commandments to perform then a levi, a levi to a yisroel etc.
In other words, our computation of the Godly gift of life needs to include God and his infinite will and wisdom as described in the holy torah. This is the seder of Israel, this is our heritage, this is what Israel stands for – glorifying the God of Israel at every turn and opportunity during our lifecycle.
The kohen donor
The family members of a signatory kohen is allowed to be be מטמא to him upon his death (Igrot Moshe).
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