By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times
Before we get to the debate, let’s look at five quick facts:
Five percent of men get colorectal cancer. Four percent of women get colon cancer. It is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Regular screenings save lives.
And now, number five.
Gedolei Torah have signed a kol koreh stating that both men and women age 50 and up should get colonoscopies ebuvery five years.
Not all who signed agreed to the language, however. And here is the debate: Rabbi Moshe Shaul Klein disagreed with the wording of “should.” He changed his version to “must” and wrote it as a Psak halacha.
The other signers of the Kol Koreh were Rav Nissim Karelitz, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, Rav Shimon Bodny, and Rav Sriel Rosenberg.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 140,000 Americans are diagnosed annually with colorectal cancer, and more than 50,000 people die from it.
What lies behind the debate?
Are there Mitzvos involved in getting a colonoscopy?
Most readers have heard of the Mitzvah of “veNishmartem me’od b’nafshosaichem (Dvarim 4:9) – the Mitzvah of protecting our health and well-being. Fewer, however, have hears of the second Mitzvah. The verse later on (Dvarim 4:15), “Rak hishamer lecha” is understood by most Poskim to actually comprise an actual second Mitzvah (See Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita Shaar HaTeshuvos #25) – to take special care. There is often a third Mitzvah, “V’Chai Bahem – And you shall live by them” (VaYikra 18:5).
Perhaps there is a fourth Mitzvah as well and that, perhaps, may be central to the aforementioned debate. When Rabbonim get together and sign a Kol Koreh establishing a new recommended practice – is there an actual full-blown Mitzvah of following their view, or is it just a recommendation? It is this author’s view that the matter is a machlokes Rishonim and different Gedolei Torah have expressed varying views on this very issue.
That topic, however, is for another discussion. The main point here is that all men and women above the age of fifty 50 should screen regularly for colo-rectal cancers through colonoscopies. AT a minimum it should it should be done every five years and if there is a family history of cancer – it should be done more often.
Regardless as to whether there is a fourth Mitzvah here or not – anyone who is 50 or higher should make an appointment for a colonoscopy as soon as possible.
The author can be reached at [email protected]
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4 Responses
My father and grandfather died from colon cancer (father at 49, grandfather close to 90). A colonoscopy is such a easy process, takes one morning, and they cut out any polyps that they find, which stops colon cancer in its tracks before growing. The cancer grows so slowly, ever 5 years is sufficient. So easy to prevent, “chaval al hazman.” I’m not saying that HKB”H doesn’t have his plans (a 49-year old with colon cancer is not that common!), but histadlus is so important in this.
The discussion above contains a mix of Torahic interpretation and medical advice. Get medical advice from a doctor, not a rabbi, and vice-versa. And hopefully, there will be no conflicts between the two advisers.
I was recommended once in ten. If polyps are found then once in 5, even if they are benign.
What about vaccines? Can we get a kol koreh on that issue?