Our understanding of medical issues, particularly at the beginning and end of life, continues to change and so the traditional answers need constant review. Questions that deal with birth control, abortion, the status of the fetus, artificial insemination, surrogate mothers, and related controversial matters are among them. New medical procedures such as transplants, genetic tools, and experimental drugs have raised issues with little precedent. Our view of the status of women has us place many of these questions into a different framework.
In each of these instances, I have looked carefully at the traditional answers, usually given long before such advances were made, as well as those of contemporary colleagues. I have consulted medical experts, who have been helpful, but as some procedures remain controversial additional information is not always useful. Occasionally it has been necessary to qualify a response, but generally | feel that a definite answer is required. The questioner is not interested in an essay or a menu of choices but rather seeks help with a specific situation.
Our new relationships with the religions around us continue to bring a large number of questions. Ecumenism without syncretism and with a regard for the positive efforts of other faiths on social issues and theology has been my goal. Much material from earlier ages has not been appropriate, however, boundaries must be clearly drawn especially with intermarriage and issues connected with the extended family. For me the boundaries remain clear and there are limits beyond which it is inappropriate to involve non-Jews , no matter how friendly they may be. Usually the Jewish questioner has had more difficulty with this than the believing Christian.
In the matter of status we have taken a stand that remains somewhat controversial especially in Europe and Israel . It has enabled