Further comments on Alzheimer's patients

[Meha...@aol.com]

I am enclosing some basic texts regarding who is considered a "shoteh" to be halachically exempt from mitzvos. These relate to the general question of whether it includes those who are mildly handicapped, partially developmentally disabled, and those who suffer from the whole gamut of psychological disorders to the point wher they are unable to function. I would suggest as a guideline for other contrinbutors that the language of discussion should be in ENglish with any necessary usage of Hebrew technical terms, but that quotes of text may be in the original Hebrew.
I would also like to add the follwing points for consideration.
1. Does the formal diagnosis of a physician make a difference to the Alzheimer's patients status for minyan and mitzvos? Do we care if someone is merely showing symptoms of senility, or if there is empirical evidence of the physiology and etiology oif the dysfunction, such as multiple minor strokes, the harmful effects of renal failure, Alzheimers, etc.? When do we say this person is no worse than anyone who is sometimes so tired that he forgot to daven, so jet-lagged that he mixes up the day of the week, and so forth, and when do we say he has the status of "shoteh."
Rabbi Avrohom Marmorstein

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