Aberdeen shul hosts talk on organ donation

By Dan Newman
Special to The Jewish State

In an era where people can wait months, and sometimes years, for an organ donation, there is one organization that wants to help ease the burden.

Six years ago, Robby Berman founded HODS (Halachic Organ Donor Society). The mission of the HOD Society is to save lives by encouraging organ donation from Jews to the general population. So far, Berman's organization, of which he is currently the director, has facilitated 38 donations.

Last Wednesday, Berman spoke about the society to a group of approximately 20 congregants of Young Israel of Aberdeen in Monmouth County.

"One thing that is for certain is that we do know how to cure disease," Berman said. "Sometimes though, there just aren't enough spare parts to get everything done."

Berman branched out on many topics during his lecture, including the thought that Jews have superstitions when it comes to potentially donating organs, and that, emotionally, donating organs could be a very difficult thing to overcome. He also said that many Jews are secular in nature and thus they believe that Jews don't donate organs.

"My organization is trying to break taboo and the perception that must be buried whole," Berman explained. "If we can help to save a life, then we are going to do that. We support Jews donating to both Jews and non-Jews."

During his hour-long presentation, Berman said that approximately 200 Orthodox rabbis have agreed to donate to non-Jews, including organs such as kidneys, lungs, hearts, livers, and even skin. HODS does not get involved in the medical testing of the aforementioned organs.

HODS "has a few thousand members," and is currently in the process of printing 30,000 educational brochures. Berman has lectured over 200 times to nearly 20,000 people in places such as Jerusalem, London, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York, and wants to continue to spread the word about organ donation.

"In your journey on Earth, when it's over, please choose life," Berman said.

HODS also accepts tax-deductible charitable donations and functions as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. It also offers Shabbat lectures, school lectures, one-day regional seminars, Shabbat Scholar-in-Residence programs, and printed materials.

For more on Berman's organization, go to www.hods.org, or call (212)213-5087.