Author Description

Judaism's emphasis on the value of human life has always spurred Jews to study medicine, and in this edition we feature a special section on Medicine and Halakhah. In "Gestational Surrogacy," prominent experts in halakhah and medicine describe what they feel are the steps that should be taken to avoid any halakhic questions with this modern medical miracle. In "Criminalization of HIV Transmission," a leading AIDS researcher and a rabbi discuss the serious risks that HIV poses to society and analyze, from the perspective of halakhah, what steps can and should be taken to stem its spread. The third article in this section is a departure from the others. "Obstetrics and the Curse of Eve," rather than celebrating the power of modern medicine, questions whether halakhic considerations such as modesty and hillul Shabbat should not argue for a return to natural childbirth. Several articles deal specifically with Hanukkah. In "The Movement of the Chanukah Menorah Indoors: a Historical and Halakhic Analysis," we see that some Rishonim considered the discomfort felt in lighting the menorah publicly among gentiles as included in what Hazal consider shaat hashmad. The menorah should therefore be lit outdoors only in Eretz Yisrael. A Hebrew article argues that ner Hanukkah is unique in requiring greater financial sacrifice than any other mitzvah and explores the reason for this and the meaning of pirsumei nissa. "What Motivated Antiochus to Issue His Decrees Against the Jews?" explores from a historical perspective why the Greeks were apparently willing to accommodate the religious practices of all nations in their Empire except that of the Jews. Other articles, while not dealing specifically with Hanukkah, touch upon its themes. In an article on "The Soul of the Jew and the Soul of the Non-Jew," we see that since the medieval period, most religious authorities have explained the enmity that Israel constantly experiences from the gentiles as a function of an essential difference