The first Assia journal in the Assia series was published in 1970. The goal of the series was defined in the journal’s introduction: "To provide for those interested and connected to this field, medical and ethical problems, solutions and ethical thought processes of those Rabbis and doctors that have dealt with these problems."

The first issue was published under the name “publications in topics of halacha and medicine,” and contained eleven abstracts, without original articles. The second issue was released in February 1971 and was the first to be published under the name “Assia”. It appeared in the present format and included original articles, abstracts and bibliographical references to further sources. Assia – the journals name – means “doctor” in Aramaic. Next to the journal’s title appears the words "Asi Chigratath," in other words, ‘doctor start by healing yourself, not only physically but ethically.’

Until today 80 editions of Assia have been published in which have appeared close to a thousand professional articles and bibliographies. As a result of the journals’ success nine Assia books were published including a new edition of Assia essays with an index. These essays deal with a variety of topics, including: scientific, legal, ethical and halachic aspects of cloning, determining time of death, heart transplantations, truth-telling to the dangerously ill patient, halachic and medical aspects of the AIDS virus, psychiatry and halacha, the selling of organs, the cessation of medical treatment and euthanasia, initial counseling for a juvenile with homosexual urges, smoking and life expectancy, coercive medical treatment, the surrogate mother, medical dilemmas of hospital nurses and naturally, practical halachic principles connected to the obligation to save human life.

To order an Assia book or to subscribe to Assia press here.

To search in the articles published in Assia press here. Some of the articles are available online.