Citing the Mishna, Rabbi Tendler explained to the students that, after a prisoner is beheaded, any extraneous body movements are disregarded. In a prophetic observation, the great physician, philosopher, and codifier of Jewish law, Maimonides, noted that death affects the organism first, then the individual organs, and, finally, the cells. There is no question about the need for organ donors or the halachic mandate of allowing a transplant, said Rabbi Tendler. Further, he said, to hinder an organ transplant is to be guilty of violating a mitzvah. Jew or Gentile Asked if a jew's organs could be donated to a Gentile or vice-versa, Rabbi Tendler was unequivocal.
Human life is identical.
Jew or non-Jew, chassid or secularist. Saving any human life is halachically mandated so that we transgress the laws of Shabbat to do so. In Israel, where the death rate from traffic accidents is so high, there should never be a shortage of organs, said Rabbi Tendler. The fact that so few families allow organ donation is evidence of how much work must be done to change attitudes. In exchange for organs, Israel will train their surgeons.