GRS is hosting a Blood Drive for the Red Cross on Monday, February 2, from 1:30 – 6:30 pm. Click this link, https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=GRS, to sign up so you can give the gift of life —l’chaim!
One of the most famous and beautiful teachings of Judaism is, “Whoever preserves a life, it is as if he has preserved an entire world.” (Talmud (Sanhedrin 37a) By donating blood, you can help! Want to know more? Read this:
The Gift of Life: Why Is Donating Blood a Mitzvah?
Have you taken it for granted that if you’re in the hospital and need blood transfusions, a donation will be there for you, safely and securely, matching your own blood type?
On the other hand, you have probably received innumerable Red Cross requests to donate blood, but haven’t responded because you were too busy or felt squeamish?
Blood donations seemed an abstraction to me until a dear friend was ill, needing several transfusions a week. Without a safe and reliable blood supply, he would be dead. And blood donations are more complex than just matching blood types – people receiving frequent transfusions develop antigens and antibodies, so that even if the blood type is a match, the donation may not be!
GRS hosts a Red Cross blood drive six times a year, making it easy for the surrounding community to fulfill the mitzvah of donating blood. You can easily sign up online, donate blood, enjoy the free snacks and friendly conversation, and be on your way in a hour or so. If you need a little more encouragement, consider these reasons:
In Judaism, donating blood is a mitzvah (a good deed or commandment). Here’s why:
- Pikuach Nefesh (Saving a Life): Over-riding almost every other Jewish law, blood donations are be life-saving. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 37a) teaches: “Whoever saves one life, it is as if they saved the entire world.”
- Chesed (Kindness): Donating blood is a selfless act of kindness, because donors are not compensated. Helping strangers in need follows the Torah’s commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18).
- Lo Ta’amod Al Dam Re’echa (Do Not Stand Idly by the Blood of Your Neighbor): We can’t ignore when someone’s life is in danger (Leviticus 19:16); donating blood is essential when lives depend on a safe blood supply.
By donating blood you can save lives, show compassion, and fulfill moral and religious obligations. It exemplifies the highest ideals of Jewish ethics — preserving life, acting with kindness, and caring for others. Not eligible to donate? Just find a friend or family member who is eligible to donate on your behalf!
Make your New Year’s resolution for 2026 to donate blood as often as you are eligible, and if you can’t, convince someone else to do so in your place!
© Sandra W. Soule 2025