This year Heichal Hatorah is proud to offer a new elective course on Medical Ethics and Halacha to our senior class consisting of alternating sessions, between topics in halacha taught by Rabbi Yehuda Willig and science topics taught by Heichal’s Chair of Sciences, Mrs. Deniera Goldenberg. The course offers an in-depth analysis of many scientific, philosophical, and halachic questions regarding some of the most current topics in medicine and halacha, and aims to expose Heichal’s talmidim to core values guiding decision-making from a medical, ethical and halachic perspective. Topics include Confidentiality in Genetic Screening, Stem Cell Research, End of Life issues, CRISPR, Genetically Modified Organisms in Halacha and much more. In alternating sessions, students study the underlying science and ethical questions that lay the foundation for up-to-date topics in medical ethics through instruction led by Mrs. Deniera Goldenberg, and are then taught to analyze those issues through the lens of halacha by Rabbi Yehuda Willig. Students immerse themselves in an in-depth analysis of the primary and secondary halachic sources related to the subject matter. Mrs. Goldenberg commented on the value of this groundbreaking new course; “Not only am I privileged to be able to teach this course, but I am thrilled to be able to empower our students at Heichal with such a detailed understanding of some of the most fascinating yet complicated topics in Torah and science. These are conversations our students will be engaging in for years to come, and this course allows them to follow current events with a more thoughtful perspective based on both scientific facts and Torah sources. Courses like this train Heichal’s talmidim to critically analyze complex situations, one of the most important skills in which we can train our students.” Heichal Hatorah is thrilled to be able to offer such a thought-provoking and enlightening experience to its talmidim in their senior year.