Recapitulation of Emet Kneh Pamphlet

Prefaced with an introduction by Shalom C. Spira

29 Menachem Av, 5778

INTRODUCTION

As hypothesized in footnote 238 of this student’s “The Halakhic Definition of Life in a Bioethical
Context,”1 during the final years of the physical lifetime of R. Moshe Feinstein and R. Jacob Kamenetzky,
those two luminaries were unable to properly discuss the debate regarding the definition of death that had
reportedly emerged between them, because R. Feinstein and R. Kamenetzky were both occupied with
finding a solution for Ms. Hinda Feinstein, as per the Gemara, Ketubot 2a, that “the Sages were diligently
concerned for the welfare of the daughters of Israel.” The following pamphlet Emet Kneh – published
during 5745 by Ms. Feinstein’s family– is referenced in the aforementioned footnote and provides
background information.
This student is grateful to R. J. David Bleich for bringing the Emet Kneh pamphlet to this
student’s attention. Appreciation is also expressed to the Wikipedia entry on R. Aryeh Malkiel Kotler (in
the Hebrew edition) for rendering the Emet Kneh pamphlet available. The original Emet Kneh pamphlet
measures 91 pages. This student has slightly truncated the Emet Kneh pamphlet by deleting several
unnecessary blank pages, and also by removing one introductory page which (by innocent oversight) had
a halakhic problem because it did not manifest sufficient respect to the Name of Ha-Kadosh Barukh Hu,
Yishtabach Shemo. Now, with the editing successfully orchestrated by this student, the revised Emet Kneh
pamphlet spans 83 pages. [When one adds to the calculation the present page of introduction, the final
document measures 84 pages. To that effect, this student has added page numbers, 1 through 84.]

1
<http://www.scribd.com/document/375175373/Halakhic-Bioethic>

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