אות - מח

Regarding the sanctification of Hashem's Name [kiddush Hashem] — that our Sages o.b.m. said [Kesubos 33b]: "If they had flogged Chananya, Mishael and Azarya, etc." — he said that it is not an obligation, because even so it is possible that one will be found who will sanctify the Name even if they do all the tortures and beatings in the world. And as is related from the generations close to ours — how many kinds of tortures the holy martyrs endured for the sanctification of the Name. Fortunate are they.

Regarding doctors and remedies[92] he spoke with us very much and was very, very critical of remedies and doctors, and warned very, very strongly that everyone who wants to spare his life and the lives of his offspring and household members should distance himself very greatly — to the furthest possible extent — from engaging, Heaven forbid, with remedies and doctors. And even one who has a sick person in his household — and even if the illness is severe, Heaven forbid, may the Merciful One save us — even still he should cast his burden upon Hashem and lean upon his G-d alone, and not engage with remedies and doctors at all. Even in a place where there are outstanding doctors, even so, he should not rely upon them and should not entrust his life into their hands — because they are closer to death than to life, may the Merciful One save us.

Because even if he is a great doctor, it is impossible for him to precisely determine the illness and the remedy appropriate for it according to the person's constitution and nature, and according to the specific illness, and according to the season and time. Because there are in this many, many variations that the doctor must be very precise about — and it is very difficult for him to be precise about all the details and not err in all the particulars, as they themselves admit. And very easily he can ruin the person greatly — to the point that no remedy for his life will help, Heaven forbid. And even the very greatest doctor — all the more so and certainly the majority of doctors found in our lands, most of whom do not know their right from their left and are actual murderers who kill souls with their own hands, Heaven forbid. One must flee from them like an arrow's shot, lest he kill himself or the sick person whom he hands over to them with his own hands, Heaven forbid. And even when one relies on great doctors it is a very great danger and far from life since he has fallen into the hand of the doctor. And it is impossible to elaborate and relate all that Rabbainu o.b.m. told on this matter.