Chabad Lubavitch of Chautauqua will present the first lecture of its social justice series, on health care, at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday in the Hall of Philosophy. Rabbi Zalman Vilenkin will focus on the obligations of society at large, the local community and the individual with regard to healthcare coverage. The lecture will explore how Jewish literature deals with these moral issues.
Questions to be addressed include: To what extent can individuals be compelled to contribute toward a public welfare system? What kinds of medical care should be provided, when should it be provided, how much should be spent on providing the healthcare?
Vilenkin will examine references from the Talmud, Maimonides, the Code of Jewish law and other classical Jewish writings and apply their guidelines and principles to the questions of today.
Vilenkin is the spiritual leader of Chabad Lubavitch of Chautauqua. He was also a former teacher at the Rabbinical College of Johannesburg, South Africa, and is for the past 13 years at the Talmudic Seminary in Brooklyn, NY. He also serves as the assistant dean at the Talmudic Seminary and is a highly sought after speaker. He is a known educator and lecturer who has spoken in the Hall of Philosophy and for the past 12 years offers daily classes as part of Chabad’s Jewish Discussions Group at Chautauqua.
The second lecture of the social justice series will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 1, on economics and the third lecture will take place Wednesday, Aug. 15, on the subject of education. The lectures are co-sponsored by Chabad Lubavitch of Chautauqua and the Department of Religion.
The Chautauquan Daily 
