Delaying Burial: The Medical Debate that Began Jewish Modernity

Judaism has a long and rich set of traditions regarding burial, caring for the dead, and mourning. With the rise of modern medicine and public health in the eighteenth century, however, some of these traditions conflicted with new ideas of hygiene and public safety. In this class we will study how the Jewish tradition of burying the dead immediately after death became a flash point in emerging tensions between Jewish ritual and modern science. This debate would involve some of the greatest luminaries of the age including Moses Mendelssohn, Jacob Emden, and Yechezkel Landau (Noda Biyhudah). We will consider how this fight set the stage for the tensions that still pervade modern Judaism today.

Ranana Dine is an Assistant Professor of Catholic-Jewish Studies and the Crown-Ryan Chair at Catholic Theological Union, where she also directs the Catholic-Jewish Studies Program. She join the CTU faculty in 2025 after finishing her PhD at the University of Chicago Divinity School in religious ethics. Prior to enrolling in the PhD at the University of Chicago, she studied religion and art at Williams College and completed two master’s degrees in Christian theology and medical humanities respectively at the University of Cambridge. Her research interests include modern Jewish thought and ethics, Jewish feminist thought, bioethics, and religion and visual culture.

Who are these classes for?

Our classes are for everyone—whether you’re brand new to the topic or have been engaging with it for years, we encourage participation from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experience levels. Unless otherwise noted, no prior knowledge or experience is needed. Not sure if a class is for you? Email us at learning@lehr.haus!

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Can I eat during class?

While we do not serve food in the study, you are welcome to order and enjoy drinks during class and join us for a meal before or after class. We highly recommend making a reservation if you know you'll be dining with us. Visit www.lehr.haus/reservation to check availability and book a table.