Abstract
Non-direct (altruistic) kidney donations effectively treat end-stage renal failure, benefiting recipients and healthcare systems. Though rare globally, Israel leads in this practice, with most donors belonging to the various Jewish orthodox communities. To understand donor motivations, we conducted qualitative research content-analyzing magazines published online as well as printed and freely distributed by Matnat Chaim, an organization promoting altruistic kidney donations. The findings align with previous studies on donor motivations, highlighting the religious/spiritual aspect while providing deeper insight into the nature of this motivation. Kidney donation is portrayed as a profound and multidimensional religious and spiritual experience, which emerges from an ongoing dialogue between individuals’ everyday routines and their desire to infuse life with transcendent meaning. Donation serves as an anchor of value and significance in donors’ lives. Furthermore, it represents an expression of fervent faith in God and submission to divine will. Donors perceive their donation as a gift: a vehicle for spiritual elevation and for establishing a deep, intimate connection with their Creator. This promotional material strategically leverages both online digital platforms and traditional print media to convey a compelling religious narrative around kidney donation. Carefully crafted, these publications frame the act of donation as a pathway to a euphoric spiritual experience, and effectively communicate how the physical act of organ donation transcends into a deeply spiritual experience. This research’s novel insights of the motives of altruistic donors imply that their decision is not solely based on an altruistic discourse, but also shaped by the desire for religious climax.
Presenters
Nechama Kirschenbaum AvinerStudent, Graduate, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Religious Community and Socialization
KEYWORDS
Altruism, Kidney-Donations, Qualitative, Media, Religion, Spirituality
