If a Cohen is doing experiments with a corpse, and he notices a the body is circumcised, in a city of Rov goyim, Leeds UK, should he be Choshesh for Tumat Ohel?
A Cohen is prohibited to come in direct contact with a corpse, also if we are dealing with a non-Jewish body, but he does not come in direct contact with the bodies unless he is in the same building with the body. As you know, there is a difference between a Jewish and a non-Jewish body.
The halachic guide lines rule that in a place where you can’t know if the body is Jewish or non-Jewish you should go by the majority.
In the case of a circumcised body, one must check if the majority of circumcised people in that area are Jewish or non-Jews. This factor is variable from state to state in the USA – 50-90 percent of the newborns that are not Jewish are circumcised. In the US there will be a lot of places that even though the body is circumcised if you can’t know if the body is of a Jew, he will be regarded as a non-Jew. On the other hand, to the best of my knowledge, in England the situation is different. Although the British Royal Family did circumcise their newborns, the percentage of circumcised people in the non-Jewish community is very low. It is obvious that in England the “Rov” – obvious majority – of the circumcised people are Jewish.
That is way any circumcised body in England should be related to as a Jewish corpse, regarding “Deanai Tumah”.
Dear IRP, Hope all is well! I'm engaged in the study of medicine and in modern medical textbooks there is very little (if any) restraint
I would appreciate guidance on the following Sheilah that was asked of me. A Cohen is studying for an MSc in Medical Ethics in Birmingham,
ב"ה שלום רב. יש לי מספר שאלות ואודה לקבלת תשובתכם: 1. אישה הסובלת מכאבי בטן, בעיקר בוסת, אך לא רק, וגם כאבים בזמן אישות, האם
