OU Kosher, New York Medical College (NYMC), and Touro University came together to host a groundbreaking webinar titled “Medicine meets Passover: what clinicians and rabbis need to know.” The event, which took place on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, attracted 350 participants from across the globe, including the United States, Canada, Israel, Germany, Australia, and Belgium. The webinar attracted a wide range of clinicians including mental health counselors, physicians, Pas, nurses, social workers, Rabbis and even the curious.
The webinar was designed to explore the interface of medicine, technology, Pesach (Passover), and halacha. Such topics discussed included “Is Medicine Chametz?” “How to conduct a seder in a hospital setting” and “Design and process of supplement manufacturing” which generated an exciting and thought-provoking discussion.
The session featured greetings from Alan Kadish, MD, President of Touro University and NYMC, and an introduction by Rabbi Menachem Genack, CEO of OU Kosher. The presenters were Edward Lebovics, MD, Professor of Medicine, Sarah C. Upham Professor of Gastroenterology at NYMC and editor of the Medical Halacha Annual Journal published by Touro University and NYMC who spoke on “A Medical Perspective on Passover,” and Rabbi Gavriel Price, Director of Ingredient Research at OU Kosher, who spoke on “Passover Implications for Medications, Nutritionals, Supplements, and Medical Facilities.” The moderator was Rabbi Eli Eleff, Managing Director of Community Relations at OU Kosher.
The webinar was approved for 1 CME credit by the Office of Continuing Medical Education, NYMC, and was offered free of charge as a community service to healthcare providers. The event was followed by a lively question and answer session, which allowed participants to delve deeper into the topics discussed.
OU Kosher and NYMC/Touro University are excited about the success of the event and look forward to future partnerships that will continue to bring together medicine and halacha.
A recording of the event may be viewed at www.oukosher.org/med-PrePassover