Israel: A local chief rabbi has proposed that the Rabbinical Court (Beit Din) be given the authority to approve or forbid organ donations, rather than families or individuals

Rabbi Razton Arusi, the Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Ono, offered the proposal as a way to avoid the issue of families being faced with the difficult decision of whether to allow an organ donation of their loved one. Under his proposal, doctors would have to turn to a special Rabbinical Court for approval instead. "According to Torah Law, man does not own his body,” Rabbi Arusi explained. “Hence the prohibition against suicide and euthanasia. Organ donor cards are therefore not a prerequisite according to Torah Law. A Rabbinical Court should be authorized to decide to approve organ donations when necessary,” the rabbi declared.