Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz speaks in Portland Aug. 4
By Jewish Review
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Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz, whose expertise reaches from medical ethics to Jewish spirituality and mysticism, will speak at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4, at Congregation Kesser Israel, 6698 SW Capitol Hwy.
The “Evening with Akiva Tatz,” to which the entire community is invited, is sponsored by Kesser Israel and the Portland Kollel. Suggested donation is $10.
Originally from South Africa, Tatz now lives in Jerusalem, where he lectures and teaches on a broad range of topics. His Portland stop, following a Shabbaton in Seattle, is part of a North American tour.
“We are delighted that Rabbi Tatz can join us,” said Rabbi Kenneth Brodkin of Kesser Israel. “He is an expert on Jewish concepts of spirituality, which he presents in an engaging, accessible manner.”
Brodkin noted that several of Tatz’s books deal with Jewish spirituality, including “Anatomy of a Search,” “World Mask,” and “The Thinking Jewish Teenager’s Guide to Life.”
His recent book, “Letters to a Buddhist Jew,” grew out of a year-long correspondence with David Gottlieb of Chicago, who was studying Zen Buddhism and who wanted to know more about Jewish spirituality.
Tatz is the founder and director of the Jerusalem Medical Ethics Forum, which promotes knowledge of Jewish medical ethics internationally. An internist and surgeon, he served as a medical officer in the South African Defence force. When he moved to Israel, he practiced medicine in Jerusalem, as well as engaging in Yeshiva study. Eventually, he concentrated on Talmud study and teaching in Jewish thought and medical ethics.
Harry Glauber, a Portlander originally from South Africa, was a classmate of Kevin Tatz at medical school in Johannesburg. Glauber, like Tatz a medical doctor, recently re-established contact via e-mail and is looking forward to reconnecting during Tatz’s upcoming visit. Over the years, Glauber has read several of Tatz’s books and has listened to some of his many shiurim available on the Internet (torahmedia.org).
“He is an excellent and engaging speaker,” Glauber said. “We are lucky to have him coming to Portland."
For details about the talk—or information about a gathering for young adults with Tatz—contact the Portland Kollel, 503-245-5420 or info@portlandkollel.org.
