Speaker Bios
The following is a sampling of speakers who have come to address the Fellowship.
Each semester may vary.
Cary Friedman
Cary Friedman is a consultant to the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit and the law enforcement community in general. He earned an MSEE from Columbia University and rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University. Friedman was Executive Director of the Jewish Learning Experience of Durham, NC, a Chaplain at Duke University, and a Chaplain at the Federal prison in Butner, NC. Friedman is the author of five books (www.caryfriedman.com).
Ruthi Lynn
Hailing from the Florida of England, Bournemouth, Mrs. Lynn graduated from Cambridge University. There she survived the wrath of an anti-religious oriental studies department for her irreverent commitment to Judaism. Once back in Israel with husband and child in tow, became the apprentice to Jerusalem's foremost expert on Jewish child-rearing for the subsequent five years and continues to share her knowledge (and now far more experience) with Jewish women in the NY, NJ and Philadelphia areas.
Rob Kurtz
Rob Kurtz has written and produced over 100 hours of prime time television including "Grace Under Fire" and "COSBY." Most recently, he wrote the FOX animated film "Everyone's Hero" starring Whoopi Goldberg, Rob Reiner and William H. Macy. Mr. Kurtz had the unique experience of working closely with Christopher Reeve who spent the last year of his life directing the film. His first children's book is due out this fall.
Dr. Herman Presby
A distinguished member of Technical Staff at Bell Laboratories for over 25 years, Dr. Herman Presby led the Research and Development in photonic applications. As Research Architect for Terabeam, Dr. Presby holds over 200 patents in Optical Fiber Technologies, and has published over 150 articles in leading scientific journals.
Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb
Having received his Ph.D. in mathematical logic at Brandeis University, Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb went on to become Professor of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University. Today he is a senior faculty member at Yeshivat Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem. An accomplished author and lecturer, Rabbi Gottlieb has electrified audiences with his stimulating and energetic presentations on ethical and philosophical issues (http://dovidgottlieb.com).
Elimelech Goldberg
Elimelech Goldberg holds a black belt in karate and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Wayne State University Medical School. Goldberg is the founder and the National Director of Kids Kicking Cancer, a nonprofit organization established to host events and programs for families with a child afflicted with cancer (www.kidskickingcancer.net).
Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz
Dr. Akiva Tatz was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He studied medicine at the University of Witwatersrand and graduated with distinction in surgery. He served as medical officer in the South African Defence force and completed a tour of duty on the Namibian border during the conflict there. He subsequently moved to Israel where he practiced both in hospital and general medicine in Jerusalem, as well as engaging in Yeshiva study. Dr. Tatz founded the Jerusalem Medical Ethics Forum, of which he is Director, for the purpose of teaching and promoting knowledge of Jewish medical ethics internationally. He has written a number of books on the subject of Jewish thought and philosophy: Anatomy of a Search, which documents the process of transition from secular to observant lifestyles among modern Jews, Living Inspired and Worldmask. He currently resides in London, England.
Wendy Shalit
Mrs. Wendy Shalit was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Williams College in 1997. Her essays have appeared in Commentary, Slate, the Wall Street Journal and other publications. Her first book, A Return to Modesty: Discovering the Lost Virtue, was published by the Free Press in 1999 and is currently in its 7th printing. Girls Gone Mild is her second book. She is the founder of ModestyZone.net and the group blog ModestlyYours.net, online forums for women who don't have a voice in the mainstream media.
Dr. Abraham Abraham
Dr. Abraham S. Abraham was born in Jerusalem and received his medical training in England. He was awarded his M.D. by the University of Birmingham for his pioneering work on the effects of oxygen in chronic bronchitis. A decade later, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (London) which is the highest honor a physician can receive in the U.K. Since 1989 Prof. Abraham has been the Chief of Internal Medicine B at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. He has published over eighty articles in international medical journals including three in The New England Journal of Medicine.