Rabbi Akivah, one of Judaism’s best known sages and a leading contributor to the Mishnah, was martyred by the Romans in the second century for teaching Torah after it was forbidden. The duty of pikuach nefesh, to protect human life, even at the expense of forgoing (most) mitzvah observance is a well-entrenched Torah precept advocated by the Rabbis and the subsequent Jewish tradition. Rabbi David Radinsky will analyze to what extent one must sacrifice his /her life to teach Torah in public in times of oppression forbidding such activity. Rabbi David J. Radinsky is a graduate of Yeshiva University and is Rabbi Emeritus of Brith Sholom Beth Israel Congregation (BSBI) in Charleston, having served as its senior rabbi for 34 years. Rabbi and Barbara Radinsky have retired to Memphis to be close to family. They continue to have many fans in Charleston. -Reception to Follow-