LifeCenter Northwest celebrates National Donor Sabbath

Each year LifeCenter Northwest celebrates National Donor Sabbath, an annually recognition observed two weekends prior to Thanksgiving. The three day recognition will be celebrated November 10-12 this year.

All major religions in the United States support the decision to donate, seeing it as an act of love, charity, and generosity. For many who register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor, faith plays a very important role in making their decision to give to others. Additionally, many transplant recipients rely on their faith to get through the trying time awaiting transplant and the recovery process after surgery.

National Donor Sabbath is an opportunity for faith leaders, donor families, transplant recipients, and donation and transplantation professionals to educate their community about the lifesaving act of donation and transplantation. These communities can advocate for the gift of life, while also encouraging people to talk to their loved ones about donation, and register to be an organ, eye and tissue donors.

“In Judaism, there are literally hundreds of tangible deeds a person ought to do for another human being, and the highest of all, is saving a life, “says Rabbi Micah Greenstein, Temple Israel (Memphis, TN.) “We are commanded to pray as if everything depends on God, but to act as if everything depends on us. No matter what one’s faith tradition may be, each of us can save a human life by becoming an organ donor.”

Research has shown that one of the main reasons people hesitate to register is the belief that it is against their religion. All major religions in the U.S. consider organ donation to be a final act of love. With your help, we can eliminate this misconception and teach donation as a true act of compassion aligned with the giving mentality of major religions practiced through the nation.

LifeCenter Northwest invites you to utilize these downloadable resources to advocate for donation within your faith communities and houses of worship during National Donor Sabbath. Join us in celebration by sharing the message of donation with your congregation and encouraging them to learn more about the power of donation and register to save lives.