Suppose you and your partner take a genetic screening test and discover that both are carriers of Tay-Sachs Disease or some other fatal degenerative genetic disorder. Do you decide not to have children, or, if you have already conceived, do you get an abortion? What does halakhah say about it?

Such questions fuel discussions in this year's new Prozdor course in Jewish Bioethics, created and taught by Yehudah Potok, the school's academic director. Through text study, mock trials and debates, students examine Jewish and other sources to extract views on genetic screening, stem cell research and other controversial topics.

In late December, the Institute for Informal Jewish Education at Brandeis University recognized Potok's innovative course by naming him one of five recipients of a two-year Community Hebrew High School Curriculum Grant. Potok plans to use the grant to enhance the course curriculum and package it for use by teachers in other community Hebrew high schools.

back to top