Rabbi Dr Moshe David Tendler
The renowned Rabbi Moshe Tendler, died on Shemini Atzeret aged 95.
A dean of the rabbinical school and a professor of Jewish medical ethics and biology at Yeshiva University, he chaired the bioethical commission of the Rabbinical Council of America and the Medical Ethics Task Force of UJA-Federation of Greater New York.
But all that aside, he was one of those great historic figures who will forever be remembered for their share in the achievements of an even greater historic figure. In his case, this was his father-in-law, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986), commonly referred to as “Reb Moshe”, the preeminent halachic posek of the 20th century, who was probably also the most daring posek in many generations, many of whose responsa are codified in “Igrot Moshe”.
Tendler himself became most famous for the fierceness with which he advocated for the Jewish legal position that brain death constituted death, thus allowing Orthodox Jews to donate and receive organ transplants in the case of brain death.
Born and raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Tendler was immersed in the dual pursuit of rigorous secular and religious studies from a young age under the tutelage of his mother, a law school graduate, and his father, head of the Rabbi Jacob Joseph yeshivah, who had formerly been a student of the Chafetz Chaim in Radun, Poland.
He grew up just a few blocks away from Rabbi Moshe Feinstein and eventually became his son-in-law. He met Rabbi Feinstein’s daughter, Shifra, when she approached him at a public library in the neighbourhood to ask him a question about chemistry.
He studied at New York University, and at the Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Yeshiva (RIETS), of Yeshiva University where he received rabbinic ordination in 1949 and studied with (among others) Rabbi J.B. Soloveitchik. He earned a doctorate in microbiology from Columbia University in 1957. In his tenure teaching biology and Talmud at Yeshiva University, he taught hundreds of doctors and rabbis.
In addition to teaching, Tendler also served as the rabbi of the Community Synagogue in Monsey, New York from 1967 until his death.
Tendler became an important influence on Rabbi Feinstein’s positions on questions of Jewish law and medicine and served as a bridge between the scientific experts and the experts in Jewish law and ethics, writing articles in the top medical journals, as well as for Jewish scholars. The posek for the Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists and its past president, he translated various medical oriented responsa of Rabbi Feinstein into English, and wrote extensively on medical ethics, euthanasia, infertility, end of life issues, organ donation, and brit milah (Jewish circumcision). He served on a Rabbinical Council of America panel on stem cell research.
“I remember him telling me how he used to sit with Rabbi Feinstein and he would describe the science behind halachic issues. Rabbi Feinstein would ultimately make the rulings, but Rabbi Tendler was his interpreter of much of the scientific knowledge,” said Alan Jotkowitz, a professor at Ben Gurion University of the Negev, director of the Jacobovits Centre for Jewish Medical Ethics and director of the Medical School for International Health and Medicine.
Jotkowitz, who was a student in Tendler’s biology and Talmud classes at Yeshiva University, described Tendler as a major influence for himself and other Orthodox doctors, whom Tendler empowered to be scholars of both Judaism and science.
In a statement reacting to the sad news, Yeshiva University president Dr Ari Berman said: “As a renowned scientist, beloved communal leader, and preeminent rabbinic decisor, Rabbi Dr Moshe Tendler embodied the Torah values of our community and successfully lived a life of deep learning, commitment to others and spiritual authenticity. The Jewish community and the broader society were elevated by his leadership, and his absence is a loss for us all.”
Tendler’s wife Shifra predeceased him in 2007. He is survived by eight children.
The content cited above is based on an article by SHIRA HANAU published on JTA as well as various other published tributes.
Note: While on a visit to Australia for a professional conference in 1987, Rabbi Tendler addressed gatherings of rabbis and Jewish professionals in both Melbourne and Sydney regarding medical ethics issues. He also had input into local halachic issues including matters to do with proposals for Melbourne’s first eruv that was the subject of much controversy at the time. In that regard he notably expressed his belief that final arbiters of local matters must be the local rabbinate. As reported in The AJN, September 22, 1988, at the time of declaration of the eruv constructed by Rabbi Zaichyk of the Melbourne Mizrachi, he stated that being in the US he could not formally endorse its kashrut but he believed it had been built according to the highest standards he personally set for eruvim. He sought that the rabbis who opposed in principle the concept of an eruv in Melbourne should still endorse it as halachically sound even as they advised their congregants against its use.
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