Jewish Medical Ethics

This course is designed for students from diverse fields including medicine, bioethics, law, philosophy, and religious studies.

It is ideal for those interested in exploring how religious frameworks, particularly Jewish ethics, interact with contemporary medical challenges.

Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, students will: Discover the value of a perspective that considers the welfare of both body and soul, that balances lofty ideals with practical realities, and that offers much-needed clarity during times of pain and confusion Probe the values that are embedded within the principles of Jewish law that can shape character, attitude, and ethical sensibility, and guide one toward a life of meaning and serenity Observe how the Torah is a ‘Torat chayim’ - that its age-old principles serve as a solid and relevant guideline for modern-day life, and that modern Jewish ethics are not arbitrarily chosen by rabbis but predicated on authentic sources and principles Explore the halachic process used by contemporary rabbinic authorities to address novel situations that arise out of changing conditions and technological advances