Chief Rabbi encourages organ donation

The Office of the Chief Rabbi has released a video for Organ Donation Week encouraging observant Jews to sign up for the NHS organ donor register.

The new system of organ donation introduced into England in May last year will ensure that a person's religious beliefs will be respected, the video explains.

"For the first time, observant Jews are able to respond positively to the call for organ donation, safe in the knowledge that our religious wishes will be respected," it says.

Whereas previously potential donors had to indicate a willingness to give their ogans on the register, now under the new "opt-out" system the state presumes that a person's organs will be available unless they declare otherwise. But there are safeguards to take into account religious beliefs.