DOCSLIB.ORG

Dilemmas in the Jewish Communal Field for Orthodox and Traditional Professionals

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Dilemmas in the Jewish Communal Field for Orthodox and Traditional Professionals DILEMMAS IN THE JEWISH COMMUNAL FIELD FOR ORTHODOX AND TRADITIONAL PROFESSIONALS JEFFREY KORBMAN Development Officer, Jewish Theological Seminary; Formerly Development Executive, UJA- Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York There are a growing number of Orthodox and traditional Jewish communal profession­ als in the federation field. At times, their personal religious beliefs come into conflict with their professional obligations. This article explores several such dilemmas, citing Jewish sources in support of possible professional responses. n an article entitled "Ethical Dilemmas in ditional field comes a fiindamental religious I;he Jewish Community Center," David dilemma: traditional values at odds with a Dubin (1987) explores challenges faced by frequently nontraditional communal the ethically sensitive Jewish Community agenda. Center. These dilemmas include the par­ Working with the Young Leadership Di­ ticipation of intermarried lay leadership, vision of UJA-Federation in New York improperly documented donations, keeping evoked numerous dilemmas that pitted my a "kosher" kitchen, as well as several other religious beliefs and principles against my policy questions. In each case, Dubin sug­ professional obligations. This article ex­ gests how a communal center ought to re­ plores four such dilemmas. The responses spond. offered below are strictly the opinion of this Often, though, dilemmas of Jewish insti­ author and are not to be taken as those of all tutional policy are grappled with privately Orthodox or traditional Jews. Those facing before being brought forth as an agenda personal challenges of this sort should con­ item for discussion. For some Jewish com­ sult their local rabbi for fiirther discussion. munal professionals, ethical dilemmas aris­ ing in the workplace often challenge their THE FUND-RAISING EVENT AND THE personal beliefs, Jewish values, and Jewish STUMBLING BLOCK practice. This is certainly true for Orthodox Background and traditional Jews working in the field. Commonly referred to as the "Spring Gala," Today, within the federation field, there is a this fiind-raising event generates sizeable growing constituency of Orthodox and tra­ fiinds for the operating budget of the divi­ ditional Jewish volunteers and profession­ sion, thereby enabling us to sponsor over 50 als. Where there once was concern about programs throughout the year for young obtaining a kosher meal at the Council of Jewish adults. These activities include Jew­ Jewish Federations' annual General Assem­ ish educational programs ranging from ba­ bly, today kosher food is assumed at its sic Hebrew reading to text study discussions main fiinctions. At major meetings, tradi­ on Jewish laws and customs. Yet, the tional Shabbat services now boast a sizeable Spring Gala is, in essence, a party and a Orthodox and traditional participation, and dance. Its main activity is mixed dancing major plenaries are suspended on this day. between non-married men and women. It is also not unusual to see a yarmulke be­ ing worn around the convention by numer­ Dilemma ous leaders and speakers. With the growing Orthodox and traditional constituency in a According to traditional Jewish law, men historically and still predominantly nontra- and women are not permitted physical con- 64 Dilemmas for Orthodox and Traditional Professionals / 65 tact outside the context of marriage or fam­ ticipate in any activity of this transaction, ily {Shulchan Aruch, Evan HaEzer 22:1). such as acting as witnesses or writing the Further, mixed dancing, which often in­ loan document, because of Lijhey Iver. volves physical contact, is explicitly forbid­ Thus, Lifney Iver encompasses supportive den {Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 529:4 and ancillary participation as well. and Mishnah Berurah gloss 21). This pro­ Does mnning a fimd-raising dance then hibition places the staff involved in coordi­ violate the prohibition of Lifney Iver? Fur­ nating this dance in the position of violat­ ther, even if one is not in charge of it, but ing the biblical prohibition of "enabling one simply helps out at the event — collects to commit a sin," or Lijhey Iver Lo Titen money at the door, checks coats, serves the Michshol ("before a blind person you shall food etc. — is this person violating this not put a stumbling block") found in Levi­ law? ticus 19; 14. Simply put, would I, the staff The answer might lie in an important professional, violate the prohibition of distinction that is made in discussing Lifiiey "Lifney Iver" (enabling the "blind" to sin) Iver; namely, the issue of accessibility. The by organizing a fund-raising dance? Talmud {Avodah Zarah 6B) quotes Rabbi Natan's statement and limits its application Explanation of the Issue to a case of trei ibrah d 'nahara (literally, The issue of acting as enabler for others to "two sides of the river"). If the potential break traditional Jewish law is a complex sinner (in the above case, the Nazir) is on one side of the river, and the prohibition one. Based on the biblical verse quoted (the wine) is on the other side of the river, above, Rashi, the great talmudic commenta­ and the person extends his hand over "the tor, wrote that "blind" is not to be taken lit­ river" to enable the prohibition to take erally, but rather means that the individual place, this violates Lijhey Iver. Conversely, is simply unaware of his transgression. if the Nazir had wine next to him, on "the This definition of "blind" is expanded by same side of the river" — meaning that it the Talmud {Pesachim 22A) as follows; was easily accessible at all times — then even if one extends the wine to him, one R. Natan said, "From where do we know that does not violate Lifney Iver since he could one may not extend a cup of wine to a Nazir have attained the wine on his own. [one who has vowed to abstain from wine] nor a limb from a hve animal to a Noachide Moreover, a later commentator. Rabbi [which is prohibited]? The source is from the Akiva Eiger, states {Yoreh Deah 181:6) verse, "Thou shall not place a stumbhng that, if enabling another to sin (who is go­ block before a blind person." ing to sin anyway) will reduce the total gravity of sins committed, it is permitted. The Talmud, as cited above, does not differ­ For example, if one says to another person, entiate between an intentional and uninten- "1 am going to eat pork (a biblical and more Uonal sinner. Therefore, one can infer that severe prohibition) unless you serve me even if the sinner is aware of his actions, it chicken and milk (less rabbinic prohibi­ is prohibited to assist him. Further, the tion)," it would be permissible to serve the Talmud teaches elsewhere {Bava Metzia person chicken and milk since it reduces the 75B) that even when an individual indi­ total gravity of the sin. rectly assists the "blind" person, doing so Response would also violate the prohibition of Lifney Iver, enabling. For instance, the Talmud One might argue that staffing a fund-rais­ states that not only is it forbidden for one ing dance would not be in violation of Jew to charge another Jew interest on a Lifney Iver since (a) trei ibrah d 'nahara money loan but it is also prohibited to par­ ("two sides of the river") is not in effect FALL 1994 Journal of Jewish Communal Service 66 since tliere are dances all over New York Dilemma City, and those in attendance could simply It States in Levificus 19:17: "Do not hate find another dance if they did not come to your brother in your heart. You must ad­ our Spring Gala and (b) the Spring Gala monish your neighbor and not bear sin be­ lends the opportunity for Jews to inter­ cause of him," This verse obligates all Jews mingle, thereby reducing the possibility of to be concerned with the behavior of and to interacting with the predominantly non- admonish when necessary their co-religion­ Jewish crowds found at dance clubs open to ists. This Jewish principle rejects the secu­ the public. The Spring Gala, one could say, is only attracting people who would be go­ lar notion of "live and let live," ing out dancing anyway and moreover di­ On this Singles Mission, what obligation minishes the possibilities of interaction with do I have to admonish or point out the vio­ non-Jews predominant in public clubs or lation of the "three weeks" to a fellow Jew dance halls. However, there are many who violates traditional Jewish law? halachic poskim (Jewish legal decisors) who Explanation of the Issue disagree with this interpretation of Lifhey Iver and would forbid any participation in Maimonides, in commenting on the com­ an activity that included mixed dancing. mandment of admonishing, writes the fol­ (Ex, R. Moshe Feinstein, O.H. 4:35), lowing (Hilchot Deot 6:6-9): SUMMER SINGLES MISSION: TO TALK If one has observed his friend sinning or fol­ OR NOT TO TALK lowing an improper path, it is a mitzvah to restore him to the correct way and to inform Background him that he is sinning against himself, as it is Every summer. National UJA organizes a written, "You must admonish your neigh­ national singles mission to Israel. In recent bor".,,,One must continue to reprove him un­ years, the mission has attracted several hun­ til the sinner actually strikes [the reprover] dred young, single adults from throughout and says, "I refuse to comply," Whoever is the country. Typically, as it takes place able to protest [the behavior of the sinner] during the summer, individuals go on the and does not, will ultimately suffer the conse­ trip as their summer vacation and look to quences of that sin, since he could have pos­ have a good time as much as learning and sibly prevented it from occurring.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Teenage Supervision, Submitted by Yaakov Bieler, Jackbieler@Aol
    Proposed Resolutions for Adoption at the 48th Annual Convention of The Rabbinical Council of America April 29th - May 1st 2007 Museum of Jewish Heritage Battery Place, New York, NY Concluding with Parallel Yemei Iyyun at The Wilf Campus, Yeshiva University The Orthodox Union The Center for Jewish History Rabbi Daniel Cohen, Convention Chairman Rabbi Barry Freundel, Resolutions Committee Chairman On Friday, April 20, 2007, members of the RCA’s Executive Committee were invited to a conference call to be held on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 in order to define the scope of convention resolutions, as per its authority under Article 7, Section 2 of the RCA constitution, “The Resolutions Committee shall prepare and present resolutions to the annual meeting in accordance with the procedures adopted by the Executive Committee.” At that meeting, the Executive Committee unanimously approved the following procedure: “Convention resolutions shall not address the day to day governance of the RCA, which has historically been the responsibility of the officers and the Executive Committee.” Of the many resolutions submitted for possible adoption by the membership at the convention, only resolutions in accordance with the Executive Committee’s procedure are included in this packet, as follows (in no particular order): 1) Supervision of Teenagers, submitted by Yaakov Bieler, p. 2 2) Commendation of Rabbi Naftali Hollander, submitted by Menachem Raab, p. 2 3) Environmental Movement, submitted by Barry Kornblau, p. 2 4) Global Warming, submitted by Barry Kornblau, p. 3 5) Jordanian Construction of Temple Mount Minaret, submitted by Zushe Winner, p. 3 6) Plight of Jews of Gush Katif, submitted by Yehoshua S.
    [Show full text]
  • Jewish Law 2011
    JEWISH LAW Syllabus Spring 2011 Professor Sherman L. Cohn Wednesday, 5:45-7:45 Professor Barry Freundel McDonough Room 492 Professor David Saperstein This course will examine from several perspectives the structure, concepts, methodologies, and development of substantive Jewish Law. It will compare Jewish and American Law, and explore the roots of Anglo-American law and politics in the Bible and later Jewish law. The course will examine the insights that Jewish law provides on contemporary legal issues. Each year, the particular issues examined are subject to change depending on controversies then current in society that make such issues interesting to examine, but generally include methods of conflict resolution, evidence, economic justice, privacy, bio-ethics, environment, and family law. Primary source material in translation will be used. A paper is required. Students will be expected to prepare brief discussions on the contrasts and similarities in American Law with the issues of Jewish law discussed. Syllabus Note: While this syllabus sets forth the thrust and the substance of the Seminar, it is subject to possible alteration as the seminar discussion proceeds. General Assignment: For those who do not have a background in Jewish history, Chaim Potok, Wanderings: A History of the Jews, Max Dimont, God, Jews and History, are the best of the shorter, popular books on the topic. It is highly recommended that students in the seminar read one of these books, if possible, as close to the start of the seminar as is feasible. Other good short works are: Ben Sasson, H.H. (ed.), A History of the Jewish People; Sachar, A.L., A History of the Jews; Roth, Cecil, A History of the Jews.
    [Show full text]
  • Convention Program
    Convention Program The 48th Annual Convention of The Rabbinical Council of America April 29th - May 1st 2007 Museum of Jewish Heritage Battery Place, New York, NY Concluding with Parallel Yemei Iyyun at The Wilf Campus, Yeshiva University The Orthodox Union The Center for Jewish History Rabbi Daniel Cohen Chairman Convention Program Tearoom: Sunday/Monday 2.00pm – 5.00pm in the Events Hall Time Sunday Events Sunday 1-3pm RCA Executive Committee Meeting Sunday 2pm Convention Registration Sunday 3pm Opening Keynote Plenary Welcoming Remarks Rabbi Daniel Cohen, Convention Committee Chairman The Rabbi’s Pivotal Leadership Role in Energizing the Future of American Jewish Life Richard Joel, Yeshiva University Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Orthodox Union Edmond J. Safra Hall Sunday 4 PM Talmud Torah Track Leadership Track Networking Track Part 1 Prophetic Leadership: Guided Workshop: Forget the Lone Ranger: Yirmiyahu as a Man of Emet in a Finding Your Leadership Style Best Networking Practices Within World of Sheker and Maximizing your Personal and Beyond the Synagogue. Rabbi Hayyim Angel, Power within your Shul Chairman: Rabbi David Gottlieb, Cong. Shearith Israel, NY Dr. David Schnall, Shomrei Emunah, Baltimore MD Azrieli Graduate School of Rabbi Reuven Spolter, Jewish Education and Young Israel of Oak Park Administration Rabbi Kalman Topp, YI of Woodmere Shomron Yehudah Chevron Sunday 5 PM Talmud Torah Track Leadership Track Networking Track Part 2 Communication or An IDF Officer’s Leadership Best Networking Practices Excommunication?: An Analysis Insights as Related to the Rabbi Eli Weinstock, of Two Rabbinic Policies Contemporary Rabbinate Cong. Kehilath Jeshurun, NY. Prof. Yaakov Elman, Rabbi Binny Friedman, Rabbi Ari Perl, Congregation Bernard Revel Graduate School Isralight Shaare Tefilla, Dallas TX Rabbi Chaim Marder, Hebrew Institute, White Plains, NY Shomron Yehudah Chevron Sunday 6 PM Mincha Edmond J.
    [Show full text]
  • Synagogue Trends a Newsletter for the Leadership of Orthodox Union Member Synagogues
    SYNAGOGUE TRENDS A NEWSLETTER FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF ORTHODOX UNION MEMBER SYNAGOGUES VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 FALL/WINTER 1997/98 how Me The Money! by David J. Schnall, Ph.D. We’ve heard it over and more likely to give, to give more, Mandell I. Ganchrow, M.D. again: “IYM AIN KEMACH, AIN TORAH.” and to give more often. The reasons President, Orthodox Union It is a truism that barely needs rein- are at the same time obvious and Marcel Weber forcement We all favor expanding subtle. On the one hand: Chairman, Board of Directors our shul’s structure and its activities. Dr. Marcos Katz People of deep religious faith and Chairman, Board of Governors From a new youth wing to the values see charity as one among leaky roof to the rabbi’s next con- Rabbi Raphael B. Butler many divine obligations and Executive Vice President tract, we face a myriad of worthy responsibilities. In Jewish thought, Stephen J. Savitsky causes, all deserving attention and TZEDAKAH goes along with DAVENING, Chairman, Synagogue Services Commission priority. Like it or not, being an offi- KASHRUT, SHABBAT, TALMUD TORAH and Michael C. Wimpfheimer cer and a community leader, means all the rest — as part of an integrat- Chairman, Synagogue Membership Committee seeking new and more creative ed, holistic, constellation of values. Rabbi Moshe D. Krupka ways to develop financial resources, So it’s no surprise that those who National Director, Synagogue Services while holding and reinforcing the take it the most seriously are more Dr. David J. Schnall existing base of support.
    [Show full text]
  • Putting the Silent Partner Back Into Partnership Minyanim Rabbi Dr
    Putting the Silent Partner Back Into Partnership Minyanim Rabbi Dr. Barry Freundel Introduction Over the last few years a new phenomenon has appeared on the Jewish scene. This phenomenon referred to as “Partnership Minyanim”, claims to be Orthodox and/or halakhic, and to offer increased opportunities for women to participate in services.1 Specifically, women are allowed to serve as prayer leader (in some venues a woman is always asked to lead) for Kabbalat Shabbat—but not for Maariv on Friday night. On Shabbat morning a women may serve as Hazan(it)for Pesukei Dezmira but not for Shaharit and Musaf. So too, a girl may be asked to conclude the Shabbat morning services beginning with Ein Kelokeinu. Finally, women are given aliyot and read Torah at these services (in some places this is allowed only after the third aliyah).2 There are some of these groups that follow somewhat different structures.3 The title of this article reflects a fundamental concern about how this new development has come to the community. Partnership Minyanim exist in many areas; Jerusalem, New York, Washington, DC, Boston, Chicago and elsewhere.4 Yet there has, to the best of my 1 For a description and definition see the homepage of Congregation Kol Sason online at http://www.kolsasson.org/index.html and http://www.jofa.org/Resources/Partnership_Minyanim/ for The Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA) description of these services. 2 This is based on Responsa R. Meir of Rothenberg (1215-1293) 4:108, a source that in my opinion does not apply to the question of women regularly receiving aliyot in a mixed setting, today.
    [Show full text]
  • We Need to Talk: a Review of Public Discourse and Survivor Experiences of Safety, Respect, and Equity in Jewish Workplaces and Communal Spaces 2
    We Need to Talk: A Review of Public Discourse and Survivor Experiences of Safety, Respect, and Equity in Jewish Workplaces and Communal Spaces 2 About the Safety Respect Equity (SRE) Coalition Acknowledgments This research was conducted by Dr. Guila Benchimol and Marie Huber on behalf There are a number of people without whom of the Safety Respect Equity (SRE) Coalition. The SRE Coalition was founded in this report would not have been possible. Firstly, February 2018 after informal conversations about #MeToo in Jewish spaces the SRE Coalition would like to acknowledge evolved into a gathering of movement builders, experts, and field practitioners. and thank the individuals, victims, and survivors The goal was to set a vision for how the Jewish community could address who took the time to share their stories and safety, respect, and equity within its workplaces and communal spaces and lend experiences with us so that we could learn from voice and action to the international #MeToo movement. Today, more than 100 them. Thank you to Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, organizations and individuals make up the SRE Coalition as an organized Jewish Guila Benchimol, and Carly Straus for conducting alliance committed to creating lasting change within Jewish institutions. The Coalition is focused on three main objectives: a focus group, survey, and interviews with these individuals. SRE also acknowledges and thanks Leading Edge, Dr. Judith Rosenbaum and Jewish Leadership Commitment Women’s Archive (JWA), The Good People A broad cross-section of organizational and communal influencers widely Fund, Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York embrace and prioritize efforts to change organizational norms and behaviors and ensure safe, respectful, and equitable workplaces.
    [Show full text]
  • A Journal of Jewish Responsibility
    that this is the standard. Certainly, in dealing with Sh'ma theoretical illnesses, there is no need to have a sufficient number of dialysis machines and respira- tors for the entire population. Such an undertaking a journal of Jewish responsibility would bankrupt society, could probably not be 22/434 MAY 15,1992 achieved, and would cause many other deaths, as society would, of necessity, cut back on other, non- medical, but important life and death safety and security concerns. Instead, a reasonable number of beds and amount of machinery, based on appropri- ate actuarial expectations of need must be provided. If as a result of unforeseen happenstance the system is temporarily unable to cope with a particular problem, the society cannot be held culpable. While this conclusion may seem harsh, no responsible Judaism and the health care crisis society could or should act otherwise. In halachic Barry Freundel terms that which is not Bifaneinu (before us) in the present reality cannot determine public policy or ; The elections of 1991 were unique in that medical else we will wind up harming real flesh and blood I care has never been so prominent an electoral issue. people with real flesh and blood needs out of fear of I The senatorial contest in Pennsylvania turned, possible events, the vast majority of which will never r significantly, on fears that adequate affordable occur. medical care is becoming progressively less available in this country, and, that therefore a national health Facing Reality with Jewish Idealism , insurance program is a desideratum, if not a neces- More to the point, even situations that are Bifaneinu, sity.
    [Show full text]
  • For the Sake of Jerusalem, Be Silent... Sometimes by Rabbi Barry Freundel the Classic Story Tells of Eliezer Ben Yehuda, The
    For the Sake of Jerusalem, Be Silent... Sometimes By Rabbi Barry Freundel The classic story tells of Eliezer ben Yehuda, the father of the modern Hebrew language, moving to Jerusalem as the tangible fulfillment of his life's work. When he took up residence in our eternal capital, he turned to his wife and said, "From this day forward you will no longer speak to me in Russian. You will speak to me only in Hebrew." "But," replied his wife in Russian, "I do not speak Hebrew." "Then," said ben Yehuda, "you will be silent in Hebrew." Though the treatment of his wife may leave something to be desired, ben Yehuda, who was not a particularly observant Jew, understood two things. First, that the experience of Jerusalem was so overwhelming that only a spiritually dead Jew could live there without being profoundly affected by the experience. So impactful was the city that not just one's emotions but also one's behavior needed to express the impact. In that regard, even an appropriate silence that showed appreciation for the city would be far superior to communication that suggested that the location had no impact. Second, and it is this that I will focus on, ben Yehuda seems to sense that somehow Jerusalem would be violated or offended or disturbed in some way by the use of a language other than Hebrew. Without specific reference to the question of whether use of a particular dialect constitutes an actual insult, it is interesting that ben Yehuda seems to have sensed a quality that Jerusalem does indeed possess.
    [Show full text]
  • Superior Court of the District of Columbia Criminal Division-Misdemeanor Branch
    SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CRIMINAL DIVISION-MISDEMEANOR BRANCH UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Case No. 2014-cmd-018262 V. Judge Geoffrey M. Alprin BERNARD FREUNDEL, Defendant. _____________________________/ MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO REDUCE SENTENCE Defendant Freundel moves this court to reduce his sentence pursuant to SCR-Crim. Rule 35(b)(1), which reads in pertinent part: A motion to reduce a sentence may be made not later than 120 days after . receipt by the Court of a mandate issued upon affirmance of the judgment . The Court shall determine the motion within a reasonable time.1 The mandate in this case was issued on October 7, 2016, and the motion filed herewith is filed within the 120-day jurisdictional time limit. Background Facts The Court sentenced the defendant on May 15, 2015 to a term of 45 days incarceration on each of the 52 misdemeanor counts on which the defendant entered a guilty plea. The Court ordered that the sentences run consecutively.2 The defendant was immediately remanded to the D.C. Jail. By letter dated June 3, 2015, counsel for the defendant requested that the Court modify 1 Prior versions of this rule required that the Court had the authority to reduce a sentence within the 120 period. The current rule, as set out above, requires the motion to reduce sentence be filed within 120 days after which the court has a reasonable time to decide the motion. United States v. Bolanos, 2008 D.C. Super. LEXIS 6, 14 (D.C. Super. Ct.
    [Show full text]
  • Judaic Sources of American
    JEWISH LAW Syllabus Spring 2007 Professor Sherman L. Cohn Wednesday, 5:45-7:45 Professor Barry Freundel McDonough Room 437 Professor David Saperstein Scheduling Note: Because Wednesday, April 4th is a Jewish religious holiday, there will be no class that evening. This class will be made up by extending the classes of April 18th and April 25th to three hours each. This course will examine from several perspectives the structure, concepts, methodologies, and development of substantive Jewish Law. It will compare Jewish and American Law, and explore the roots of Anglo-American law and politics in the Bible and later Jewish law. The course will examine the insights that Jewish law provides on contemporary legal issues. Each year, the particular issues examined are subject to change depending on controversies then current in society that make such issues interesting to examine, but generally include methods of conflict resolution, evidence, economic justice, privacy, bio-ethics, environment, and family law. Primary source material in translation will be used. A paper is required. Students will be expected to prepare brief discussions on the contrasts and similarities in American Law with the issues of Jewish law discussed. Syllabus Note: While this syllabus sets forth the thrust and the substance of the Seminar, it is subject to possible alteration as the seminar discussion proceeds. General Assignment: For those who do not have a background in Jewish history, Chaim Potok, Wanderings: A History of the Jews, Max Dimont, God, Jews and History, are the best of the shorter, popular books on the topic. It is highly recommended that students in the seminar read one of these books, if possible, as close to the start of the seminar as is feasible.
    [Show full text]
  • Genetics, Justice and Future Generations
    GENETICS, JUSTICE AND FUTURE GENERATIONS by Ioana Petre Submitted to Central European University Department of Political Science In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Supervisor: Zoltan Miklosi Budapest, Hungary 2015 Copyright notice This dissertation contains no material accepted for any other degree(s) at any other institution(s). This dissertation contains no material written and/or published by any other person, except for where appropriate acknowledgment has been made in the form of bibliographical reference. i Abstract How does the distribution of genetic technologies within the current generation influence the potential interests and well-being of future generations? This is the main inquiry of my thesis, which, in order to be adequately answered, is accompanied by a myriad of subsequent questions, such as: (i) who are the future generations?; which types of genetic procedures are, in themselves, morally problematic?; (iii) which types of genetic procedures are morally problematic for the generations to come?; (iv) how can these latter genetic technologies affect future generations?; (v) how can these latter genetic technologies affect the social environment in which the future generations will live? I argue that future generations constitute only a subtype of the large category of future people and I provide a set of characteristics that could help us define them. I claim that germline interventions aimed at modifying the genomes of future people cannot be morally justifiable if there is no possibility of controlling the intervention either by reversing or altering it, whenever need demands it. Performing germline modifications on currently living individuals targets future generations’ health and the well-being associated to it by reducing the diversity of the human gene pool.
    [Show full text]
  • Analysts Bemoan Israeli Election Results Unity Is Still the Jews
    e - - - ---- - Inside: Local News, pages 2-3 Opinion, page 4 Around Town, page 8 THE ONLY ENGLISH-JEWISH WE,EKLY IN R.I. AND SOUTHEAST MASS. , VOLUME LXXV, NUMBER 51 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1988 35C PER COPY Times Gone By Analysts Bemoan Israeli 1938: 50 Years Ago This Week Election Results NAZARETH UNDER 24-HOUR CURFEW JERUSALEM, Nov. 4 (JTA) - Nazareth was put under 24-hour bv Andrew Silow Carroll based their opinions on early another schizophrenic unity curfew today following bombing of military billets in which two Arabs NEW YORK (JTA) - Israeli projections of a virtual dead heat government, or Labor would sit in were wounded. A British soldier and an Arab were killed in a clash and American observers offering between Likud and Labor, with the opposition to a Likud government between troops and a rebel band south of Haifa. instant analysis of the Israeli religious parties holding the ruling by the narrowest of margins. election results bemoaned the fact balance of power. But the vote appeared decisive 21 REFUGEES BARRED FROM MEXICO LAND IN HAVANA that neither Likud nor Labor had The program, sponsored by a to one expert. In New York. Yusef HAVANA, Nov. 6 (JTA) - Cuba has accepted 21 German-Jewish received a clear mandate from the coalition of American Zionist Olmert, an analyst at the Shiluah refugees turned away from Mexico last week. The group arrived here electorate last Tuesday. organizations, was aired in 32 Institute at Tel Aviv University. Friday on the S.S. Orinoco and was permitted to land following appeals Even Likud supporters appeared cities in the United States and said the election results are to the authorities by Cuban newspapers, labor unions and political parties.
    [Show full text]