Jewish Genetic Diseases
by Meredith Lewis • August 23rd, 2007 4:59 PM
Category: Daily Life & Practice, Lifecycle
This week’s Forward includes their annual guide to Jewish genetic diseases. With advances in technology and medicine, the number of diseases recommended for testing grows every year.
There are still states that require blood tests from both partners before granting marriage licenses. Additionally, for many years, rabbis have either recommended or required genetic testing from couples. The logic is couples should be prepared and know all of their options well before the decision to conceive.
But not enough rabbis makes this a requirement. I was fortunate enough to be married by a rabbi who did. My insurance covered nearly all of the costs, but more importantly my husband and I had peace of mind entering our lives as a Jewish couple together.
Some college campuses and organizations now provide free or reduced-cost testing.
This is an issue important to all Jews–Ashkenazic, Sephardic, Mizrachi or any variation. I encourage everyone, married or not, who hasn’t been tested to look into the issue.
For more information, you can visit the web site of the Jewish Genetic Disease Consortium or speak with your doctor.
2 Responses to “Jewish Genetic Diseases”
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rejewvenator
Member Since: Feb 2007 Posts: 6
Genetic testing doesn’t inform you of options, it informs you of probabilities. I think we should be spending our money on educating about these genetic diseases. Testing for them provides relief for some couples and anguish for others, but by separating the two out in the pre-marital stage, it sharply limits the number of couples who have any concern over these genetic diseases at all.
The Doctor
Member Since: Feb 2004 Posts: 1112
I’m not sure what you mean, rejewv…my wife and I went for premarital genetic counselling which included both education and tests; every program I am familiar with [and I am in the industry] includes education along with testing. As far as I know there’s no separation of the two…