Introducing Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz

By now, you should have received a letter from Nigel and I highlighting some of the programmes put into place over the past few months.

The letter also included a flyer detailing the upcoming events in the shul between January and March and we hope that there is something for everyone. If you have any suggestions for any future events - please don't hesitate to contact me.

Regarding Youth activities and children services, Ruth and I hope to send out a separate note - but please note that the next Youth Group will take place THIS SUNDAY on January 25th.

Our next event is the first in our Contemporary Issues Discussion Series.  This promises to be a fascinating evening and it is a great privilege for Highgate to have a speaker of such high-calibre and renown.

The topic is 'Life and Death Decisions in Medicine' and there will be time allotted for Q & A afterwards. For those who do not know Rabbi Tatz - I have included a small biography below.

This event will take place NEXT TUESDAY 27th January at 8:00pm in the shul hall. Entrance is £5 (free for under 18's) and light refreshments will be served. See you there!

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Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He studied medicine at the University of Witwatersrand and graduated with distinction in surgery. He spent a year in St. Louis, Missouri, as an American Field Service Scholar and subsequently returned there for elective work in internal medicine at Washington University.

Dr. Tatz served as medical officer in the South African Defence force and completed a tour of duty on the Namibian border during the conflict there. He subsequently moved to Israel where he practised both in hospital and general medicine in Jerusalem, as well as engaging in Yeshiva study.

After practising medicine and studying in Yeshiva concurrently for some time, Dr. Tatz undertook a number of years of Talmudic study and later teaching in Jewish thought and medical ethics in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Dr. Tatz founded the Jerusalem Medical Ethics Forum, of which he is Director, for the purpose of teaching and promoting knowledge of Jewish medical ethics internationally.

He has written a number of books on the subject of Jewish thought and philosophy: Anatomy of a Search, which documents the process of transition from secular to observant lifestyles among modern Jews, Living Inspired and Worldmask.

Dr. Tatz is the co-author of Reb Simcha Speaks, and has recently published The Thinking Jewish Teenager's Guide to Life. His work has been translated into Spanish, Russian, French and Portuguese.

He currently lectures on Jewish thought and medical ethics at the Jewish Learning Exchange in London and internationally.