Model Beis Din Competition

The Heartrending Case of the Conjoined Twins

On September 15, 1977, conjoined twins were born to a Jewish family in Lakewood New Jersey. The twins shared numerous organs, including a unique six chambered heart. Soon after their birth, they were transported to the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, where Dr. C. Everett Koop, who later served as the Surgeon General of the United States, was chief of surgery. A team of medical experts determined that unless they were separated, both would die, however, the surgical separation would cause the immediate death of one them.

Faced with this agonizing decision, the family turned to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ZT”L to determine whether they were allowed, or even obligated, to consent to the suggested surgery. Addressing his team of medical experts, Dr. Koop stated: "The ethics and morals involved in this decision are too complex for me. I believe they are too complex for you as well. Therefore, I referred it to an old rabbi on the Lower East Side of New York. He is a great scholar, a saintly individual. He knows how to answer such questions. When he tells me, I too will know."           

Be prepared to analyze and debate the halachic and moral dimensions of the heartrending case of the conjoined twins.

Last year's high schools that participated were: The Mesivta High School of Greater Philadelphia, Rambam, TABC, Shaare Torah, Mesivta of Boston, Skokie Yeshiva, JEC, and Cooper Yeshiva (Memphis, Tennessee). Who will be there this year?!

Judges will include Rav Yonason Sacks and Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz/

Breakfast and lunch are included. Prizes will be awarded.  All LCM students are encouraged to attend.