Comments on: Genetic Testing in the Religious Zionist Community

By: Ema Dubah

Ema Dubah — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:36:39 +0000

I had offerred my kids the opportunity to be tested by DY when they started dating, but so far, the two that have reached dating age were really insulted by the non-disclosure policy.

When my daughter got engaged, they had tests done before they announced anything, but at Maccabee labs, which cost more, but offer full disclosure.

By: lion of zion

lion of zion — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 13:24:11 +0000

that should read hilchot ishut classes

By: lion of zion

lion of zion — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:59:18 +0000

“personally i think this is an issue that should be discussed by hatan/kallah teachers”

and in any type of ????? ????? classes in high school as well.

By: lion of zion

lion of zion — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:07:02 +0000

ditto to ABBI et al. i think DY’s way of operating is ridiculous. it is patronizing, regressive, condascending and unethical.

but at the least it did something. this is one area where the RW is light years ahead of MO (unless things have changed since i got married). not one of my friends did *any* type of genetic testing before marriage. i personally happened to be tested for tay sachs, but that was more by chance and had nothing to do with preparation for marriage. its not that we all decided not to do it. we simply didn’t know about it.

personally i think this is an issue that should be discussed by hatan/kallah teachers. i want my money back.

i wrote something about this a while back:
http://agmk.blogspot.com/2008/05/genetic-testing-for-jewish-couples.html

By: Robin from Israel

Robin from Israel — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:04:13 +0000

@ Kayza Zajac – I understand EXACTLY what it means, having done the tests myself only after finding out that my husband was a carrier. As someone with 40 years of life experience and a masters degree from a top school, I’m quite capable of understanding the various ramifications – I don’t feel I need you, DY or anyone else to stand in my stead and determine what I am or am not capable of handling. Perhaps we’d all be better off if we give people credit for being responsible adults able to make their OWN decisions, instead of assuming that they are incapable or unwilling to rise to whatever occasion life has in store for them.

By: Robin from Israel

Robin from Israel — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:55:08 +0000

I haven’t read the rest of the comments but I wanted to respond to what you said about mine – to be fair, the issue doesn’t change regarding the rarity, not knowing itself is a HUGE thing to carry around. I KNOW – it happened to me. My husband IS a carrier of one of these terrible diseases, and a first degree relative of mine was as well – there was a very high chance that I was too and that therefore our potential children would be at very serious risk. Waiting for the results of that genetic testing was horrific and the relief when I found out that I was NOT a carrier was tremendous, I can’t imagine having that maybe hanging over my head for the rest of my life when it is so easily and simply avoidable.

By: Abbi

Abbi — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:38:10 +0000

Rickismom:

First of all,I’m a woman. Second of all, what is infantile about asking people who are ready to get married to take responsibility for their own genetic information?

I’m sorry, but I think either you’re upset and not thinking clearly or you don’t really know what the word infantile means. Babies and children close their eyes to pretend something isn’t there. Adults don’t (or shouldn’t).

I made no comments about the national religious community or the charedi community. I think anyone, no matter what their community, should know the results of their own genetic tests. It’s just called being a grown-up. I didn’t say they have to broadcast this information with their entire shul and neighborhood, so what does stigma have to do with anything? And if they’re so upset about the news, then a meeting or two with a genetic counselor to explain how genetics works should clear up much of the depression, since, in reality, as long as they don’t marry another carrier, they’re children will be fine.

Again, how would a prospective Kallah or chatan who has a hard time dealing with possibly negative news of genetic tests deal with other really bad news down the road? I believe children (especially those who are supposed to be old enough to get married and have children on their own, but it’s sounding to me like that’s not always the case with kids getting married today) only learn when they deal with reality. Hiding reality “to let sleeping dogs lie” doesn’t help them learn in the long run.

By: keren

keren — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:38:49 +0000

Rachel, maybe what I said was not clear, I said that Rav Borshtein said that it is known that DY do not test for everything, only for a number of the most common genes in Ashkenazi society
Therefore, once a couple is married, they do the tests recomended by genetic counselling in their health fund.

If a problem is found (i.e. both parents are carriers of something), then they suggested in vitro.

MIL: DY do less tests for people coming from Eidot Mizrah background.

i.e. their main set of tests is for ahskenazim.

In addition, as I said, we compared their set of tests to the basic minimum in our health fund package and they did not have the same list at all (maybe only 2 were in both sets).

For the person who asked, if the young couple who are meeting did DY, they are the ones who ask each other to check the mutual compatibility of the resuls. As someone said, if this is not done near the beginning, is becomes complex

By: Yehuda

Yehuda — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:54:39 +0000

I am a BT who decided to get tested. I called Dor Yesharim, found out about their policy, couldn’t understand it, asked to speak with a manager who could explain it, they did, and I said thank you very much and went to the genetic testing clinic at a major hospital here in New York. More diseases tested for, more professional interface. DY seems to do a great service, and has the results to prove it, but I for one cannot fathom not receiving the results of such a test. Each to his own.

By: Mrs. Anna T

Mrs. Anna T — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:10:57 +0000

We didn’t do any genetic tests because my husband is Sephardi and I’m from the USSR. But if we were from the same genetic background, I think doing the Dor Yesharim thing is a good idea. Surely better than performing an abortion, which is horrible horrible HORRIBLE and, in my opinion, unacceptable no matter what, unless there’s a risk to the mother’s life. I’ve read your older post about abortions and I’m just appalled that some rabbis think a baby with Down’s syndrome should be disposed of. Have they ever MET anyone with Down’s syndrome? Who are they to decide whose life is worthwhile?