This year’s Boniuk-Tanzman Memorial Lecture in Jewish Medical Ethics will examine “End-of-Life Decisions: Ideas for Families and Healthcare Providers” and will be presented by Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8 at the Jewish Federation building, 12 Millstone Campus Dr.

Tatz is a senior lecturer in medical ethics and Jewish philosophy at the Jewish Learning Exchange in London. A South African born physician, he graduated from medical school in Johannesburg with distinction in surgery and then served as medical officer in the South African Defense Forces with a tour of duty in Namibia. He spent elective time in St Louis at Washington University in internal medicine and has returned here to lecture on Jewish medical ethics on a number of occasions. 

Tatz then moved to Jerusalem, where he studied Talmud while practicing both in private and hospital medicine. He has published a number of popular books, including “Anatomy of a Search,” “Living Inspired,” “The Thinking Jewish Teenager’s Guide to Life,” “Letters to a Buddhist Jew” (with David Gottlieb).  

The Boniuk-Tanzman Annual Lecture on Jewish Medical Ethics, which began in 1979, is dedicated in memory of Hyman Boniuk’s concern for people and Jewish thought, in memory of Dr. Joseph Tanzman’s dedication to the propagation of Jewish ethics in the practice of medicine, and ultimately in memory of their spouses Rachel Boniuk and Celia Tanzman. This year’s talk was planned by Jewish Federation and the Washington University Department of Surgery.

There will be refreshments after the lecture and discussion. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, email [email protected] or call 314-442-3754.

ADVERTISEMENT