Brave New Judaism: When Science and Scripture Collide

by Miryam Wahrman

Clones, genetically modified foods, frozen embryos, stem cells, gene therapy: these are some of the new discoveries and scientific developments that are guaranteed to change our lives and our society forever. How does Judaism, an ancient religion, come to terms with such dramatic changes? This insightful book explores Jewish reactions to cutting-edge biological issues that continue to dominate the headlines. Does Jewish law permit production and use of stem cells, gene therapy, and human cloning? Is it permissib le to produce and eat bioengineered foods? How do assisted reproductive technologies affect the definition of parenthood and who is a Jew? Are there “Jewish genes” that define Jews as a unique group? Do Jewish disease genes stigmatize the Jewish people? Miryam Z. Wahrman addresses these and other questions by examining how Judaism interprets and responds to recent advances in biomedical science. Presenting bioethical principles derived from traditional Judaic sources, she shows how contemporary rabbis and Judaica scholars have interpreted these texts in light of radical new biotechnologies such as infertility treatments, genetic testing, sex selection, and bioengineered food. Taking into account Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform perspectives, she shows that different denominations can react to novel technologies in unpredictable ways. For example, there are numerous instances where Orthodox sources are more accepting of technology than the other branches of Judaism. Brave New Judaism offers a broad Jewish perspective on compelling issues, showing how Judaism has coped with current scientific inventions and technologies, and how Jewish law has creatively kept pace with the modern world.

Genres: Science, Jewish, Nonfiction, Religion

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Zhelana]

This was a pretty interesting book about how various Jewish sects have responded to modern technology using biblical principles to decide whether the new technologies should be kosher or not. We considered everything from whether a pig that could chew cud would be kosher to whether women should be tested for the BRCA genes to whether fetuses should be tested for tay sachs and aborted if they have it. There are even Jews who will not accept DNA evidence that someone has died if 3/4ths of their face is not available for viewing, which was important after 9/11. My main complaint with this book is that it spent probably 3/4ths of its time talking about how the science worked and only 1/4th on the issue of whether Jews could use the technology.

Most of the reasons for the decisions were known things, like healing taking precedence over anything including shabbat, or not causing harm to animals. I don't think there was anything that really surprised me, at least not from reform or conservative Judaism. Occasionally the orthodox still make me side eye them a little.

But the basic thesis is that there is nothing new under the sun, and ancient words can continue to dictate how we respond to the modern world through new interpretations.

[Harry]

Taking its title from Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World,” Professor Wahrman elucidates the latest developments in genetics (as of 2002) and the response of Judaism’s three major streams – Reform, Conservative and Orthodox. As she points out, the most liberal branch is not necessarily the most accepting of new technologies, whereas the most conservative branch, in some cases, is more open. Prof. Wahrman covers reproduction, stem cells, cloning and genetic diseases. She also reviews the ethical concerns in genetic selection with regard to human reproduction (gender and trait selection) and food production. Wahrman makes the complex world of genetics understandable by the layman.

[Tzippy]

Highly recommended for anyone interested in Jewish law as it relates to modern-day science. You know how sometimes you read a non-fiction book and then you finish and you feel kind of empty, like there was no actual information contained in the book? Well, this is the opposite. Plus, the author has an engaging writing style which makes this an easy read.