Q. See question above. If the arm or hand was eventually rejected by an unpredictable infection, will it have to be save and buried with the body of the patient as is done with other severed parts of the body as legs? What happens if the Kever of the deceased is in Israel?
A. As we wrote on question 3406 and just quoted on question 3996 in regard to the burial of limbs: Poskim disagree. Pischei Teshuva (Y. D. 361: 1) quoting Shevus Yaakov (2: 101) debates whether one is obligated to do Kevura on limbs, that were detached from the living. (See also Gesher Hachaim p. 145, Minchas Chinuch 537, Igros Moshe (Y,.D; 1: 231-232 and others).
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that they should be buried, preferably in the kever where the afflicted is to use eventually. No ceremony is needed.
In this particular case the Rov's opinion is, that an added doubt for the need of the above mentioned burial is that the potential infection and rejection was already present although minute an unnoticed, and the hand likely never became part of the patient. In need, no burial of the arm with the one that will eventually be done with the patient, is required.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
Important Numbers
