Limmud Oz 2021

Stems cells are increasingly being used for a variety of medical needs. Their source – from an embryo, or from adult skin – has raised ethical questions for some. Jewish medical ethics hold that either of these sources is acceptable, whereas some Christian ethics oppose the use of embryonic stem cells. In the Jewish community, genetic testing is becoming more and more prevalent, especially before marriage, for diseases such as cystic fibrosis and Tay Sach’s disease. If one is carrying an abnormal gene, selection of an unaffected embryo is possible prior to implantation in IVF. If there are no unaffected embryos, would it be permissible to genetically modify the embryo, assuming the technology for this was available? We will explore how Jewish medical ethics approaches these and other questions, and how this may differ from other faiths.