Promoting Jewish Medical Awareness In Northbrook

Posted Tuesday, Oct 8th, 2013
Chicago Tribune

The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) will present it’s new six week fall course, Life in the Balance: Jewish Perspectives on Everyday Medical Dilemmas, beginning the last week of October.

Rabbi Meir Moscowitz of Chabad of Northbrook will conduct the six course sessions with four different class options in Northbrook.

“Nowadays, at some point or another, everyone faces an extremely difficult medical decision that they aren’t equipped to handle.” said Rabbi Zalman Abraham of JLI’s headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. “Our objective with this course is to acquaint the public with fascinating Jewish perspectives on some of the most cutting-edge dilemmas in medical ethics.”

In Life in the Balance, participants will ponder ethical questions about a range of topics ranging from end of life issues to preventive measures and respect due to the body after death. Questions include: Must we prolong life at the expense of immense suffering? Should we legalize compensation for organs to save the lives of those on the transplant list? And where do we draw the line between keen vigilance to safeguard one’s health and pointless panic? The course will also explore ethical ramifications of fascinating new technologies such as digital autopsies, and uterine transplants.

“These important issues are critical to so many people’s lives yet they are rarely discussed nowadays.” said Rabbi Moscowitz, the local JLI instructor at Chabad of Northbrook. “This is a unique opportunity that will benefit the wider community of Northbrook, and we invite everyone to attend.”

Life in the Balance is designed to appeal to people at all levels of Jewish knowledge, including those without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning. The course is accredited for 9 CLE credits for attorneys (ethics and professional) as well as AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits for medical professionals, and AGD PACE credits for dentists. JLI courses are open to all no legal, medical or prior Talmud study experience required. Synagogue affiliation not required.

Interested students may call 847-564-8770 or visit www.myJLI.com for registration and other course-related information. JLI courses are presented in Northbrook in conjunction with Lubavitch Chabad of Northbrook.

Class Options:

Classes Held at Lubavitch Chabad of Northbrook, 2095 Landwehr Rd

Option 1: Six Sunday Mornings

Oct 27th – Dec 8th 10:30-12:00pm

Option 2: Six Tuesday Mornings

Oct 29th – Dec 3rd 10:00am-11:30am

Option 3: Six Tuesday Evenings

Oct 29th - Dec 3rd 7:30pm-9:00pm

Option 4: Additional Class for attorneys at 555 Skokie Blvd Northbrook

Six Wednesday Afternoons

Oct 30th - Dec 4th 12:00pm-1:30pm 

More Stories