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Moshe David Tendler

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Rabbi Dr.
Moshe David Tendler
Courtesy of Yeshiva University
Personal
Born(1926-08-07)August 7, 1926
Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York
DiedSeptember 28, 2021(2021-09-28) (aged 95)
Rochelle Park, New Jersey
ReligionJudaism
NationalityAmerican
SpouseShifra Feinstein
DenominationOrthodox
Alma materNew York University, Columbia University
OccupationRabbi Isaac and Bella Tendler Professor of Jewish Medical Ethics and Professor of Biology at Yeshiva College
PositionRabbi
SynagogueCommunity Synagogue of Monsey
PositionRosh Yeshiva
YeshivaRIETS
ResidenceMonsey, New York
SemikhahRIETS

Moshe David Tendler (August 7, 1926 – September 28, 2021) was an American rabbi, professor of biology and expert in medical ethics. He served as chairman of the biology department at Yeshiva University.[1]

Biography

Moshe David Tendler was born on the Lower East Side on August 7, 1926.[2] He received his B.A. degree from New York University in 1947 and a master's degree in 1950. He was ordained at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary in 1949, and earned a Ph.D. in microbiology from Columbia University in 1957.[3]

In 1951 “Yeshiva University, through Dr. Samuel Belkin z”tl, encouraged one of its brilliant young graduates, Rabbi Moses D. Tendler, to intern and lead the congregation [of the Great Neck Synagogue] for one year,”[4] thereby becoming “Great Neck’s first Rabbi.”[5]

He was the rabbi of the Community Synagogue of Monsey, New York. He served as 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 is noted as an expert on Jewish medical ethics and their relationship to Halakha.[6]

Tendler was the son-in-law of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, a world-renowned posek.[6] Some of Feinstein's "Iggerot Mosheh" responsa are addressed to his son-in-law. His wife, Shifra, died in October 2007.[7] He died on September 28, 2021, in Rochelle Park, New Jersey.[2]

Medical ethics

Community Synagogue of Monsey

Tendler has written and lectured widely on medical ethics. He translated various medical oriented responsa of Feinstein into English, even though Feinstein expressly forbade such translations.[8][9] Tendler advocates 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.[10] Tendler 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.[11] In addition, Tendler has written extensively on euthanasia, infertility, end of life issues, organ donation, and brit milah (Jewish circumcision). Tendler has been a strong advocate for the use of a tube when performing metzitzah, suction of blood during circumcision.[12] Serving on an RCA panel on stem cell research, Tendler expressed respectful disagreement with the Bush administration's position.[13]

Tendler was the posek for the Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists and its past president.

Opinions

Tendler voiced his objection to the tactics employed by the New York divorce coercion gang, an outfit of rabbis that utilized kidnapping, and sometimes torture, to force Jewish men to grant their wives religious divorces, saying "The idea that a beth din can issue an order for coercion is baloney, a hoax." While conceding that he had had previous dealings with Mendel Epstein, a leader of that group, Tendler nevertheless characterized him as being "unreliable". Regarding Martin Wolmark, another member of that group, Tendler stated, "He's a very intelligent fellow, and he's American. I can't imagine him getting involved in such a dirty business."[14] Epstein was later convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping,[15] and Wolmark was convicted of conspiracy to commit extortion.[16]

Published works

Artikel

Books

  • Pardes Rimonim: A Marriage Manual for the Jewish Family. KTAV, 1988. ISBN 0-88125-144-5.
  • Practical Medical Halachah. Co-author: Fred Rosner, Jason Aronson, 1997. ISBN 0-7657-9990-1.
  • Responsa of Rav Moshe Feinstein: Translation and Commentary KTAV, 1996. ISBN 0-88125-444-4

References

  1. ^ "Boy or Girl ethicists cringe over new technology". Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA). October 15, 1998. the biology department chairman at Yeshiva University in New York
  2. ^ a b Berger, Joseph (October 9, 2021). "Moshe Tendler, Authority on Jewish Medical Ethics, Dies at 95". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  3. ^ "Pew Forum: Rabbi Moses Tendler". Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved September 10, 2008.
  4. ^ "Great Neck Synagogue History". Great Neck Synagouge. Retrieved October 18, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Djavaheri, Mordechai (September 30, 2021). "Great Neck's First Rabbi: Rav Moshe Tendler ז'"ל, A One Minute Appreciation". YUTorah. Retrieved October 18, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b "Rabbi Dr. Moshe Tendler of Monsey, NY To Be Honored For Unique Contribution to Jewish Life". Archived from the original on February 19, 2001. Retrieved September 10, 2008.
  7. ^ "Community Synagogue of Monsey - History". Retrieved September 10, 2008.
  8. ^ Igros Moshe Y"D vol. III s.91. This was addressed to R. Shabtai Rappaport, the grandson-in-law of R.Feinstein and son-in-law of R.Tendler
  9. ^ Responsa of Rav Moshe Feinstein, Pages 23-27
  10. ^ Breitowitz, Yitzchok A. "The Brain Death Controversy in Jewish Law". Retrieved September 10, 2008.
  11. ^ "video interview". Retrieved September 10, 2008.
  12. ^ Weiss, Steven I. (March 18, 2005). "Rabbi Targeted After Call for Bris Change". The Forward. Retrieved September 10, 2008.
  13. ^ Weiss, Steven I. (May 21, 2004). "O.U. Keeping Quiet in Stem Cell Debate". The Forward. Retrieved September 10, 2008.
  14. ^ Lieberman, Steve and Bandler, Jonathan (October 11, 2013). "New Details Emerge in Jewish Divorce-gang Probe", USA Today. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  15. ^ (April 22, 2015) "New Jersey Rabbis Convicted of Conspiring to Kidnap Husbands, Force Them to Divorce Wives", Haaretz. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  16. ^ (December 14, 2015) "Rabbi Sentenced for Role in Divorce-Coercion Ring", The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
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