Three participants of the Selwyn and Ros Smith – Manhigut Toranit Program at Eretz Hemdah (which Mizrachi World Movement has jointly partnered) took part in the 24th annual international conference for Halacha and Science – under the auspices of Bar Ilan University, Yeshiva University and The Lev Academic Center.
Rav Joel Kenigsberg and Rav Yehoshua Asulin jointly presented the halachic questions that arise from the lab-grown hamburger. As a result of exponential world population growth and increased demand for beef, scientists are working hard to provide alternative forms of meat. Starting with stem cells from an actual cow, a lab-grown hamburger could become a common commodity on the shelves of stores within the next 5-7 years. Using this technology, one cow could theoretically feed an entire country for a year. Rabbis Kenigsberg and Asulin explored the new scientific developments and the implications for the world of Kashrut. They were awarded second prize for their presentation. You can see their presentation here.
Rav Eitan Aviner presented his thesis on Electrophoretic Display Technology, a budding technology presently most commonly know for its use in the Kindle, which is set to revolutionize the way in which we interface electronically with the world around us. Rav Aviner explained how it differs dramatically, both technologically and halachically, from its electronic display predecessors, and the ramifications of such differences as they relate to the melacha of writing on Shabbat. Rav Aviner was awarded first prize for his presentation. You can see his presentation here.
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