Moshe David Tendler

Moshe David Tendler (born August 7, 1926) is an American rabbi, professor of biology and expert in medical ethics.

Biography

Moshe David Tendler received his B.A. degree from New York University (NYU) in 1947, and a Master’s degree in 1950. He was ordained at RIETS in 1949, and earned a Ph.D. in biology from Columbia University in 1957.

He is the rabbi of the Community Synagogue of Monsey, New York. He is 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 has a Ph.D. in Microbiology and is noted as an expert on Jewish medical ethics and their relationship to Halakha.

Tendler is the son-in-law of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, a world-renowned posek. Many of Feinstein's "Iggerot Mosheh" responsa are addressed to his son-in-law. His wife, Shifra, died in October 2007.

Medical ethics

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. 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. 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. 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. Serving on an RCA panel on stem cell research, Tendler expressed respectful disagreement with the Bush administration's position.

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

Published works

Articles

• So One May Live - On the separation of Siamese twins.
• Dental Emergencies on the Sabbath written with Dr. Fred Rosner.
• Halakhic death means brain death - Explaining Tendler's position on the Jewish definition of death.
• Rav Moshe on Organ donation - Tendler's analysis of Moshe Feinstein's positions on organ donation.
• Molecular Genetics, Evolution, and Torah Principles - written with Dr. John Loike.
• How Should a Torah-Observant High School Biology Teacher Teach the Origin and Diversity of Species? - The Sixth Miami International Conference on Torah & Science, Excerpts of the Panel Discussion, 13 December 2005
• Erev Pesach that occurs on Shabbos

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