INTRODUCTION

Medicine continues to advance at a remarkable speed; the changes raise ethical issues, especially as the science of genetics breaks new ground. The use of these advances, their risks and unknown side-effects bring new problems. Finally the question of access to medical advances raises thorny issues. These and a host of other difficult problems were the topic of several seminars of the Institute of Progressive Halakhah.

The papers and the responsa here presented deal with philosophical and practical issues as seen from the perspective of Liberal Jewish halakhah. They seek to add another set of voices to the continuing public debate on these questions.Unfortunately, not all those who presented papers were able to provide them in a more extensive form for publication. The result is a much more restricted volume than originally planned; we will visit these and other related issues again.