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Feb 6, 2022
father and mother
There is an interesting fight going on right now with Magen David Adom and the Haredi community. As per instructions from the government, MDA initially switched their forms for blood donation (and other forms) from asking for the names of the donors father and mother to asking for the names of parent 1 and parent 2.
This was done to be more sensitive to gay couples where there is not a classic mother and father - there might be two fathers and two mothers or some other combination of parents who identify in other ways.
While "parent 1" and "parent 2" are kind of general and pareve and dont imply anything on its own, the Haredi community was incensed over this change and its tacit support for homosexual lifestyles, even though it was not MDA's choice but one imposed on it by the government.
There used to be many blood drives for MDA among various yeshivot and they would raise a lot of liters of blood through the Haredi donors, but that has since dried up, largely but not completely, because of the new MDA forms. MDA is even complaining now of a serious shortage of blood in the blood banks.
Interestingly, while MDA has refused to go back to the original forms, as demanded by the Haredi community, that state mother's name and father's name explicitly, they have removed that section entirely and no longer ask for information about the parents. Some say this was an attempt to solve the problem - they wont ask for mother and father as government does not allow it but they also wont ask for the parent 1 and parent 2 that is so upsetting to some. Seems like a good compromise to me. Others say they stopped a little while ago because the information is not really necessary any longer anyway based on demographics. The first reason makes more sense to me to be the cause, considering the timing, but whatever.
Interestingly, while MDA has refused to go back to the original forms, as demanded by the Haredi community, that state mother's name and father's name explicitly, they have removed that section entirely and no longer ask for information about the parents. Some say this was an attempt to solve the problem - they wont ask for mother and father as government does not allow it but they also wont ask for the parent 1 and parent 2 that is so upsetting to some. Seems like a good compromise to me. Others say they stopped a little while ago because the information is not really necessary any longer anyway based on demographics. The first reason makes more sense to me to be the cause, considering the timing, but whatever.
Regardless of why they got rid of parent 1 and parent 2, it was not good enough to resolve the issue and calm the Haredi ire, and bring back the blood donors from that community. Despite the offending terms not being on the current forms, the Haredi community, via its leadership, is demanding that MDA bring back the original forms that asked for the names of father and mother. For now MDA is refusing but they are facing a serious shortage of blood and may have to capitulate (assuming they are legally able to).
To me it seems like getting rid of those questions entirely should have been a fair resolution, but it seems the Haredi community wants to make a point.
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There is bad blood between MDA and the charedim...
ReplyDeleteThis is not only about the Haredim, apparently Rav Shlomo Aviner also advised people to stop giving as a protest against this change. He suggested giving directly at hospitals instead of through the MDA to protest against "Parent 1" and "Parent 2" - not sure whether it is possible to give blood directly at a hospital.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, what was the purpose of getting parent's information. I had assumed that it would be to help them track any genetic issues which may be in the donor, or that the donor may have a high risk of, but that would only make sense if (1) They have the name of the biological parent, i.e., NOT "Parent 1 and Parent 2", and (2) they have additional information about the parent, maybe even just parent's country of birth (which I think used to be asked on the form)
Asking for "Parent 1 and Parent 2" could not serve any purpose (as far as I can tell), other than to possibly identify the person giving blood, which is done through their ID number.
as an aside, I know people who dont give blood to MDA but give directly to the hospitals because they say MDA makes money off my blood donation by selling the blood to the Israeli health services (ie the blood bank I guess). donating blood, they say, to MDA is making a donation to MDA, not Israel, whereas giving blood tot he hospital is really giving blood and not helping specifically MDA. I have no idea if that is accurate
DeleteLots of forms in Israel ask for parents' names. They even appear on one's Teudat Zehut. Maybe it goes back to when there was no better way to distinguish thousands of "Moshe Cohens." Now, of course, people have ID numbers.
DeleteThere should be bad blood between the MDA and the chareidim because the MDA has disgraced itself for a long while. They are no different than the Red Cross (just insert the star instead). They are part of the global goyish world that has overtaken the 'state' totally.
ReplyDeletewhat do you mean? how did MDA disgrace itself? how is it part of a "global goyish world"? Please explain.
DeleteYou honestly think he has a real answer?
DeleteI wouldn't boycott, but it's always interesting how all the "compromising" is only ever expected from one side.
ReplyDeleteFor clarification -
ReplyDeleteMDA never asked for parents' names, only their country of birth. Supposedly this was necessary for genetic or health information (probably to help weed out immigrants from countries deemed a health risk). Unclear whether this information has any value anymore anyway.
For what it's worth, I believe some (perhaps all?) of what MDA puts on the forms is required by IRCA.
BTW, the last two times I attempted to donate blood in Bet Shemesh, I was given a form that skipped the question entirely. Seems MDA already have a solution in place for religious areas. Also seems like they agree that the info has no real value...
it seems that the Haredi leadership is forcing this issue to go back to the old forms despite what you wrote in order to make a point. they dont care that it isnt on the forms any longer. they want the old forms that say father and mother
Delete