Maimonides and Modern Medical Issues - Applying the Rambam's Ideas to Today

Autoplay Next

Maimonides and Modern Medical Issues: Applying the Rambam's Ideas to Today

Maimonides was not only the greatest Torah scholar of his generation, but one of its leading physicians. Maimonides wrote many treatises in how to take care of one's health. But what would Maimonides say about modern medical issues?

Topics:

Torah, Eternality of, Health, Illness and Healing, Maimonides

By Daniel Eisenberg

Dr. Daniel Eisenberg is with the Department of Radiology at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia and an Assistant Professor of Diagnostic Imaging at Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine. He sat on the Albert Einstein Medical Center Institutional Ethics Committee, and now serves on the Institutional Review Board (IRB). He has served as the medical ethics scholar-in-residence since 2001 for the New England Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem and lectures for the Schlesinger Institute for Medical Halachic Research at Shaarei Tzeddek Medical Center in Jerusalem. Many of Dr. Eisenberg’s articles can be found at his website.

More in this section

Join the Discussion

Sort By:

NewestOldest

4 Comments

Leibel August 17, 2015

bizayon or nitsayon The rambam, when prohibiting striking a fellow man, uses the words derech nitzayon which means out of spite.as apposed to derech bizayon in an embarrassing manner. Reply

Lisa Gutknecht April 24, 2013

That was a particularly riveting presentation on halachic law.
I was moved emotionally by the secular world's seeking out the defining of morality based on halachah.
I am definitely taking a look at some of the articles that I see on your site at. It looks like it will provide fascinating insight into many current halachah situations.
Chabad chooses such informative lecturers. Thank you, Chabad.org and Dan Eisenberg. Reply

Dr. Avraham ben Rafael Schapera July 15, 2012

A true Healer! This is an excellent introduction to the genius that is Maimonides. The depth and width of his genuine concern of others' well being (physical and spiritual) is profound and Dr Eisenberg provides an inspiring perspective of how far advanced is the RAMBAM's insights. This should be mandatory viewing by all those involved in the health care profession. Thank you! Reply

Esther Mae Gorton Milwaukee, WI, U.S.A. July 13, 2012

Maimonides Dear Jabad,
I studied Maimonides in college as a Spanish major. I only learned about his philosophy. This lecture on him was fascinating. I had no idea he had done all the things mentioned in this video.

Thank you very much,
Esther Mae Gorton Reply