2008 Woodie Awards
Rabbi Brander Discusses Critical Medical Issues Facing Jewish Community
Harry Portman
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Amongst the fanfare of the headlining guests who were in attendance at the recent Conference, which was organized by the Yeshiva University Student Medical Ethics Society and the Center for the Jewish Future, several YU personalities also attended and participated as lecturers.
Rabbi Kenneth Brander, dean of Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future, presented one of the nine different break-out sessions conducted during the afternoon of the Conference. The topic of his session was Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, or PGD. PGD is coupled with another process called In Vitro Fertilization (IVT) wherein embryos are created in a laboratory.
In PGD, a cell is extracted from the developing embryo in an early stage of development and several different genetic tests are performed based on the specific condition(s) of concern to the case under study.
The technique can be used to detect fetuses with fatal or severely disabling diseases. It allows parents to pre-select embryos lacking the detrimental genetic characteristics and implant those within the mother. However, gender is another factor that can be detected at this early stage of development. This leads to the possibility that potential parents can choose the sex of their child from the very start of pregnancy, choosing to only implant embryos of the desired gender.
The packed beit midrash on the third floor of Furst Hall listened with great interest as Rabbi Brander spoke of the halakhik considerations of the unborn embryo, the implications of the PGD technique on a general level, as well as the more controversial topic of gender selection on the part of Torah observant parents-to-be.
The survey of material presented was drawn from numerous classical sources within the Babylonian Talmud as well as halakhik authorities such as the Rambam. However, Rabbi Brander categorized this cutting edge issue as one that required knowledge from an as of yet unwritten "fifth section of the Shulchan Aruch." He was referring to the concepts and issues involved in such advanced technologies and their medical application, which can often extend beyond the bounds of even the most referenced halakhik works.
To that end, Rabbi Brander spoke of his involvement with Mahon Puah: the institute for counseling, halakhik supervision, and assistance in matters of gynecology and fertility in accordance with halkcha, located in Jerusalem. Rabbi Brander has worked extensively with the Institute's founder and director, Rabbi Menachem Burshtein, who was a featured panel speaker at the Conference. Their efforts together have included contacting modern halakhik authorities on the questions that inevitably come up with the exploration of this new medical technology and its applications.
Although there were several poskim who were concerned about the idea of being involved in an area traditionally considered to be God's domain, the majority of responses covered during the course of the session were positive when it came to usage of PGD for the purpose of pre-screening embryos that had severe genetic disabilities or diseases. The aspect most focused on was the intent of ensuring the birth of a healthy baby, free of suffering due to genetic difficulties.
However, the responses covered were concerned about the idea of pre-selecting embryos for implantation based on choice of gender. Those in support of this idea cited the mitzvah of peru ur'vu - to be "fruitful and multiply" - which has been interpreted as being fulfilled by having both male and female children. Hence, for those families who only have children of one gender, the possibility of successfully having a child of the other gender was a beneficial use of PGD. Others were against the idea, felt that the repetitive birth of a healthy baby, no matter the gender, is better than unnecessarily enduring the psychological and financial difficulties associated with PGD.
Rabbi Brander himself cited the dictum that one of the questions asked of souls as they stand in judgment will be "Did you involve yourself in the commandment of 'to be fruitful and multiply.'" Since the specific language of the question regards one's efforts to fulfill the mitzvah, and not the actual success of having male and female children, certain halakhik authorities say there is no absolute need to seek scientific alternatives if a couple does not naturally produce both genders in their offspring.
Rabbi Brander concluded that although the PGD procedure is largely viewed in a positive light, it is only to be implemented within specific guidelines and on a case by case basis. He noted that the cost of participating in the PGD procedure can be very expensive for couples. However, an interesting fact is that the costs of undergoing the process are actually lower in the State of Israel. "Tourist agencies could advertise specials saying 'Come see the land of Israel, participate in PGD and return home with your newborn child,'" he joked.
Rabbi Kenneth Brander, dean of Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future, presented one of the nine different break-out sessions conducted during the afternoon of the Conference. The topic of his session was Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, or PGD. PGD is coupled with another process called In Vitro Fertilization (IVT) wherein embryos are created in a laboratory.
In PGD, a cell is extracted from the developing embryo in an early stage of development and several different genetic tests are performed based on the specific condition(s) of concern to the case under study.
The technique can be used to detect fetuses with fatal or severely disabling diseases. It allows parents to pre-select embryos lacking the detrimental genetic characteristics and implant those within the mother. However, gender is another factor that can be detected at this early stage of development. This leads to the possibility that potential parents can choose the sex of their child from the very start of pregnancy, choosing to only implant embryos of the desired gender.
The packed beit midrash on the third floor of Furst Hall listened with great interest as Rabbi Brander spoke of the halakhik considerations of the unborn embryo, the implications of the PGD technique on a general level, as well as the more controversial topic of gender selection on the part of Torah observant parents-to-be.
The survey of material presented was drawn from numerous classical sources within the Babylonian Talmud as well as halakhik authorities such as the Rambam. However, Rabbi Brander categorized this cutting edge issue as one that required knowledge from an as of yet unwritten "fifth section of the Shulchan Aruch." He was referring to the concepts and issues involved in such advanced technologies and their medical application, which can often extend beyond the bounds of even the most referenced halakhik works.
To that end, Rabbi Brander spoke of his involvement with Mahon Puah: the institute for counseling, halakhik supervision, and assistance in matters of gynecology and fertility in accordance with halkcha, located in Jerusalem. Rabbi Brander has worked extensively with the Institute's founder and director, Rabbi Menachem Burshtein, who was a featured panel speaker at the Conference. Their efforts together have included contacting modern halakhik authorities on the questions that inevitably come up with the exploration of this new medical technology and its applications.
Although there were several poskim who were concerned about the idea of being involved in an area traditionally considered to be God's domain, the majority of responses covered during the course of the session were positive when it came to usage of PGD for the purpose of pre-screening embryos that had severe genetic disabilities or diseases. The aspect most focused on was the intent of ensuring the birth of a healthy baby, free of suffering due to genetic difficulties.
However, the responses covered were concerned about the idea of pre-selecting embryos for implantation based on choice of gender. Those in support of this idea cited the mitzvah of peru ur'vu - to be "fruitful and multiply" - which has been interpreted as being fulfilled by having both male and female children. Hence, for those families who only have children of one gender, the possibility of successfully having a child of the other gender was a beneficial use of PGD. Others were against the idea, felt that the repetitive birth of a healthy baby, no matter the gender, is better than unnecessarily enduring the psychological and financial difficulties associated with PGD.
Rabbi Brander himself cited the dictum that one of the questions asked of souls as they stand in judgment will be "Did you involve yourself in the commandment of 'to be fruitful and multiply.'" Since the specific language of the question regards one's efforts to fulfill the mitzvah, and not the actual success of having male and female children, certain halakhik authorities say there is no absolute need to seek scientific alternatives if a couple does not naturally produce both genders in their offspring.
Rabbi Brander concluded that although the PGD procedure is largely viewed in a positive light, it is only to be implemented within specific guidelines and on a case by case basis. He noted that the cost of participating in the PGD procedure can be very expensive for couples. However, an interesting fact is that the costs of undergoing the process are actually lower in the State of Israel. "Tourist agencies could advertise specials saying 'Come see the land of Israel, participate in PGD and return home with your newborn child,'" he joked.