Puah Institute
Encyclopedia
The PUAH Institute is an Israel-based, international organization that works with Jewish couples with fertility problems
. PUAH was founded in 1990 at the request of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu
to bridge the gap between fertility treatment and Jewish law.
The institute offers counseling services and technical support for couples dealing with infertility.
opposes all kinds of in vitro fertilization because, as with contraception
, it separates the procreation purpose of the marriage act from its unitive purpose. The Islamic community, after the fatwa
regarding Assisted reproductive technology
(ART) by Gad El-Hak Ali Gad El-Hak of Egypt's Al-Azhar University
, largely accepted ART.
Within the Orthodox Jewish
community the concept was debated. In general, traditional Judaism views medical intervention positively. Regarding ART, the positive view of medicine is challenged by the Jewish religious legal system (halacha) which has numerous laws regarding modesty, sexuality and verifiable lineage.
Rabbi Menachem Burstein was requested by Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu
to create a framework to assist couples in navigating the medical options while remaining within Jewish halacha.
and surrogacy.
) the majority of orthodox rabbis have ruled that Jewish law requires an outside supervisor present to monitor the procedure and storage of the genetic material. An orthodox man or women must oversee all aspects of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process, including sample washing, centrifugation, freezing and loading of pipettes.
If the clinic can spare it, the lab will have a dedicated incubator or storage tanks for the Puah-supervised couples. That particular incubator, unlike those containing the reproductive material of non-supervised couples, is locked with a latch and key. The Puah supervisor is the only person with a key.
An alternative is a stainless steel case with dime sized holes in it, known as a Puanite box. The material is placed inside the container, which is then locked with a plastic or metal tie embossed seal with the supervising organization's insignia and placed on one of the incubator shelves. The case can only be opened by snipping the tie.
Puah Institute provides these supervision services in Israel, Europe, Australia, South Africa, South America, the United States and Canada.
In January 2010, Puah launched JewishFertility.org, an educational website giving information about the practical applications and interactions of Jewish law and fertility medicine. The web site is presented as a guide for couples experiencing infertility issues.
Professional expertise is also available to the general public through a wide variety of lectures worldwide, training courses and educational news releases. An annual conference is held in Jerusalem each year aimed at the broad public with attendance of over 1500.
Infertility
Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term...
. PUAH was founded in 1990 at the request of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu
Mordechai Eliyahu
Mordechai Tzemach Eliyahu ) was a prominent rabbi, posek and spiritual leader. He served as the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel from 1983 to 1993.-Biography:...
to bridge the gap between fertility treatment and Jewish law.
The institute offers counseling services and technical support for couples dealing with infertility.
Background
IVF and related treatments at their outset in the 1980s were viewed with great skepticism by the religious communities. The Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
opposes all kinds of in vitro fertilization because, as with contraception
Contraception
Contraception is the prevention of the fusion of gametes during or after sexual activity. The term contraception is a contraction of contra, which means against, and the word conception, meaning fertilization...
, it separates the procreation purpose of the marriage act from its unitive purpose. The Islamic community, after the fatwa
Fatwa
A fatwā in the Islamic faith is a juristic ruling concerning Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar. In Sunni Islam any fatwā is non-binding, whereas in Shia Islam it could be considered by an individual as binding, depending on his or her relation to the scholar. The person who issues a fatwā...
regarding Assisted reproductive technology
Assisted reproductive technology
Assisted reproductive technology is a general term referring to methods used to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means. It is reproductive technology used primarily in infertility treatments. Some forms of ART are also used in fertile couples for genetic reasons...
(ART) by Gad El-Hak Ali Gad El-Hak of Egypt's Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar University is an educational institute in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 970~972 as a madrasa, it is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. It is the oldest degree-granting university in Egypt. In 1961 non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum.It is...
, largely accepted ART.
Within the Orthodox Jewish
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
community the concept was debated. In general, traditional Judaism views medical intervention positively. Regarding ART, the positive view of medicine is challenged by the Jewish religious legal system (halacha) which has numerous laws regarding modesty, sexuality and verifiable lineage.
Rabbi Menachem Burstein was requested by Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu
Mordechai Eliyahu
Mordechai Tzemach Eliyahu ) was a prominent rabbi, posek and spiritual leader. He served as the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel from 1983 to 1993.-Biography:...
to create a framework to assist couples in navigating the medical options while remaining within Jewish halacha.
Counseling Services
Puah works with couples both by reviewing medical records and advising as to specific doctors and by finding solutions to problems of Jewish law raised by treatment procedures. Common problems in ART and halacha include sperm sampling and banking, fertility treatments on ShabbatShabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
and surrogacy.
Supervision Services
Due to fear of both human error and intentional deception (as in the case of Cecil JacobsonCecil Jacobson
Cecil Byran Jacobson is a former fertility doctor who used his own sperm to impregnate his patients, without informing them.-Baboon impregnation:...
) the majority of orthodox rabbis have ruled that Jewish law requires an outside supervisor present to monitor the procedure and storage of the genetic material. An orthodox man or women must oversee all aspects of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process, including sample washing, centrifugation, freezing and loading of pipettes.
If the clinic can spare it, the lab will have a dedicated incubator or storage tanks for the Puah-supervised couples. That particular incubator, unlike those containing the reproductive material of non-supervised couples, is locked with a latch and key. The Puah supervisor is the only person with a key.
An alternative is a stainless steel case with dime sized holes in it, known as a Puanite box. The material is placed inside the container, which is then locked with a plastic or metal tie embossed seal with the supervising organization's insignia and placed on one of the incubator shelves. The case can only be opened by snipping the tie.
Puah Institute provides these supervision services in Israel, Europe, Australia, South Africa, South America, the United States and Canada.
Educational Programs
The interplay between traditional Jewish law and modern medicine has created many challenges for the Jewish community. Over the past 30 years many people and organizations have worked to bridge this gap. Puah's educational department works to educate medical professionals to better understand the religious lifestyle and restrictions of the Orthodox Jewish patient and to educate Rabbis to understand the medical challenges and options confronting their congregants.In January 2010, Puah launched JewishFertility.org, an educational website giving information about the practical applications and interactions of Jewish law and fertility medicine. The web site is presented as a guide for couples experiencing infertility issues.
Professional expertise is also available to the general public through a wide variety of lectures worldwide, training courses and educational news releases. An annual conference is held in Jerusalem each year aimed at the broad public with attendance of over 1500.
External links
- Puah website in English, French and Hebrew.
- Jewish Fertility.org