The Lev Malka organization held a toast recently for the publication of a new book, B’Damayich Chayee, the first-ever book on blood donation in halacha (Jewish law). The book was compiled by Rabbi Avraham Yaakov Goldmintz, and arranged as a series of questions and answers.

Among the issues addressed in the book are the need to wash hands after blood donation, bloodletting in the times of the Gemara compared to blood donation today, and the mitzvah (positive command) of saving lives.