2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic presented some heart wrenching ethical dilemmas for doctors and front-line workers. Many such similar ethical problems have preoccupied our rabbis and sages for thousands of years. How can their wisdom and understanding help our society navigate these troubled times? Senior Rabbi Steven C. Wernick will discuss the Jewish approach to biomedical ethics and its perspective on the dilemmas presented by the current health crisis.

This event is hosted by Dr Rena Secter Elbaze, Education and Engagement Director, and Rabbi Anibal Mass of Congregation Shaarey Zedek.

As part of this series, we will continue to explore this topic with other speakers on Tuesday, January 26 and Tuesday, February 2. Stay tuned for details.

Rabbi Steven Wernick’s bio can be found at the end of the event description.

This is a FREE event and no registration is required. The event will stream live at 7:30 PM CST on Wednesday,
January 20 on:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shaareyzedekwinnipeg
YouTube: www.youtube.com/szwinnipeg
Website: www.szwinnipeg.ca/live

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Dr Rena Secter Elbaze
Engagement and Education Director
rena@szwinnipeg.ca
204-975-3489

Speaker Bio
Rabbi Steven C. Wernick is the Senior Rabbinic Chair at Beth Tzedec Congregation in Toronto, Ontario.

Previous to this role, from May 2010 to February 2019, he served as the CEO of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ), an organization committed to a dynamic Judaism that is authentic and pluralistic, joyful and accessible, egalitarian and traditional.  While at USCJ, he spearheaded a transformation to allow the organization to meet the changing needs of 21^st century congregations and shepherded the successful launch of several initiatives, including Sulam Leadership. Through partnerships with and grants from outside organizations, he significantly expanded funding for USY and launched major new efforts to assist kehillot in reaching out to young families and people with disabilities. Rabbi Wernick was also instrumental in the effort to create a permanent space for pluralistic and egalitarian prayer at the Kotel (Western Wall).  

The son of Rabbi Eugene Wernick, senior rabbi, and educator at Congregation Shaarey Zedek from 1979 to 1987, Rabbi Steve Wernick spent his youth in Winnipeg, Canada where he was actively involved with USY and Camp Ramah. As a student at the University of Minnesota, he was one of the first AIPAC college fellows, as well as founding MAIPAC, currently known as Gopherpac. Rabbi Wernick then attended the University of Judaism and was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary.  

After ordination, he served as the associate rabbi of Temple Beth Sholom in Cherry Hill, NJ, and then as the senior rabbi at Adath Israel in Philadelphia. He currently serves on many communal organization boards including the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies.

Rabbi Wernick has been named one of Newsweek’s 50 Most Influential Rabbis in America and was on The Forward’s 50 List of Influential Jewish Leaders. 

Rabbi Wernick is married and the father of three daughters.