On Friday December 1, 

Dr. Edward Reichman, professor of emergency medicine and Jewish medical ethics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, spoke to the entire SAR High School ninth grade on the topic of stem cell research, cloning and Jewish law. He addressed them at the culmination of their unit on cells and discussions of stem cells and cloning.

Dr. Reichman began by discussing cases in history in which a new medical advance raised halachic questions, and emphasized that the relationship between science and Torah began hundreds of years ago. The students were intrigued to hear the she’elot that were asked when smallpox inoculations first began, and about the life and death decisions made by rabbanim. Dr. Reichman then switched to present day, discussing questions relating to deadly diseases or damaging viruses, such as the Zika virus during pregnancy. The students were fascinated and asked many questions of their own.

Finally, Dr. Reichman explored halachic questions raised by stem cell research and the development of Jewish law in this area. Dr. Reichman pointed out the major role that Israel has played in advances in stem cell research, the fascinating piskei halacha that relate to it and the great potential that stem cell research offers.

Dr. Reichman’s PowerPoint presentation engaged the students and often referred to their class discussions. He gave the students a real sense that what they are learning in biology is being carried out actively in research labs and grappled with in halachic discussions. The ninth graders were proud to be able to understand the science and to see how it is applied in the real world.

Dr. Reichman’s presentation was a true example of the grand conversation in which students see how Judaism and secular studies intersect in this very cutting edge area of science. Dr. Reichman loved the excellent questions the students asked and told them how much he enjoys coming to speak to the SAR students each year because of how knowledgeable they are.