Moshe Tendler
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Rabbi Dr. Moshe David (Dovid) Tendler is the rabbi of The Community Synagogue of Monsey. He is a senior Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University's RIETS and the Rabbi Isaac and Bella Tendler Professor of Jewish Medical Ethics and Professor of Biology at Yeshiva College. He has a Ph.D. in Microbiology and is one of the world's leading experts on Halacha (Jewish law) and Jewish medical ethics.
Rabbi Dr. Tendler is the son-in-law of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, who was a world renowned posek, i.e., an author of many respected decisions of Jewish law and practice. Rabbi Tendler's wife, Rebetzin Shifra Tendler, passed away in October 2007.
Rabbi Dr. Tendler has contributed many articles on science and religion to leading publications, and is frequently contacted by the media and public officials for information and advice on pertinent ethical issues.
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[edit] Education
Rabbi Dr. Tendler received his B.A. degree from New York University (NYU) in 1947, and a Master’s degree there in 1950. He was ordained at RIETS in 1949, and following that, earned a Ph.D. in biology from Columbia University in 1957. He also received separate ordination from Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik and Rabbi Moshe Feinstein.
[edit] Medical ethics
Rabbi Tendler is one of the leading experts on medical ethics as it pertains to Jewish law, and is the chairman of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) Bioethical Commission, and chair of the Medical Ethics Task Force, UJA-Federation of Greater New York. Rabbi Tendler has been one of the most vocal and adamant supporters of Jewish organ donation. Rabbi Tendler has interpreted his father-in-law’s responsa to support the theory that complete and irreversible cessation of function of the entire brain renders a person “physiologically decapitated”, and is considered legally dead according to Jewish law. Thus, Rabbi Tendler has been a strong advocate for brain death criteria to be adopted as an acceptable definition of death under Jewish law. Rabbi Tender asserts that once organ donation has been deemed permissible under the given conditions, it is indeed mandatory, falling under the rubric of the legal obligation of Jews to preserve the lives of others. [For further information on this subject, visit www.hods.org]
In addition, Rabbi Tendler has written extensively in the field, including works on euthanasia, infertility, end of life issues, organ donation, and brit milah ("Jewish circumcision"). Rabbi Tendler has also been a strong and vocal advocate for the use of a tube when performing metzitzah b’peh, suction of blood for circumcision.[1] Serving on an RCA panel on stem cell research, Rabbi Tendler strongly criticized the Bush administration's position.[2]
[edit] Selected articles by Rabbi Dr. Tendler
- So One May Live - On the separation of Siamese twins.
- Dental Emergencies on the Sabbath written with Dr. Fred Rosner.
- Halakhic death means brain death - Explaining Rabbi Tendler's position on the Jewish definition of death.
- Rav Moshe on Organ donation - Rabbi Tendler's analysis of Moshe Feinstein's positions on organ donation.
- Molecular Genetics, Evolution, and Torah Principles - written with Dr. John D. Loike.
- How Should a Torah-Observant High School Biology Teacher Teach the Origin and Diversity of Species? - The Sixth Miami International Conference on Torah & Science, Excerpts of the Panel Discussion, 13 December 2005
- Erev Pesach that occurs on Shabbos
[edit] Books
- Moshe Dovid Tendler. Pardes Rimonim: A Marriage Manual for the Jewish Family. KTAV, 1988. ISBN 0-88125-144-5.
- Dr Fred Rosner, Rabbi M.D. Tendler. Practical Medical Halachah. Jason Aronson, 1997. ISBN 0-7657-9990-1.
- Responsa of Rav Moshe Feinstein: Translation and Commentary KTAV , 1996. ISBN 0881254444
[edit] External links
- YU biography
- pew forum bio
- Community Synagogue of Monsey
- Online shiurim given by Rabbi Tendler
- discussion of the Jewish views on brain death, including Rabbi Tendler's position
- Moshe Tendler honored at OU award ceremony
- Video interview with Rabbi Dr. Moshe Tendler on Brain Death & Organ Donation
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