Dor Yeshorim

Dor Yeshorim (DY ) (Hebrew: ישרים דור " generation of the upright ," Psalm 112:2 ), also called the Committee for Prevention of Genetic Diseases provides, orthodox and most famous of several organizations especially marriageable Jews an anonymous matching process, which built upon a genetic screening of the single individual based on hereditary diseases.

Organization

The organization was founded in 1980 by the New York Hasidic Rabbi Joseph Ekstein, who had lost four of his own children by the Tay- Sachs disease. Seat is the New York City borough of Brooklyn with six employees, the organization also maintains a branch in Jerusalem with three employees. For example, sends every year Dor Yeshorim representatives in private schools, in which many Orthodox families send their kids and explains the teenagers that they can determine by simple blood test to determine whether they are genetic carriers of the three diseases, Tay- Sachs, cystic fibrosis and Gaucher disease.

Background

The system was set up to fulfill the Jewish religious laws that do not allow, among other things an abortion. This includes studies of prenatal diagnosis with a. In strictly Orthodox Jewish circles mutual knowledge of young people in search of a spouse is only allowed restricted. An Engagement ( shidduch ) often begins with a recommendation from family members or friends. Usually a professional matchmaker ( shadchan ) is turned on. Thus, future genetic disorders of offspring are avoided during a marriage bureau, is wishing to marry can - each individually - undergo a genetic test as a precaution, so that their genetic compatibility can be matched with potential spouses.

Implementation

A marriage Williger can leave a blood sample in a genetic laboratory to submit. Dor Yeshorim works in cooperation with some doctors. The participants will receive Dor Yeshorim an identification number, but no test result. Due to the anonymity of the process stigmatization of the person and his family should be avoided. A matchmaker can now, before he even a matchmaking between two potential partners begins, the identification numbers by phone ( thus remains the matchmaker anonymous) at Dor Yeshorim by giving that tells to determine whether the risk of a genetic disease or not. If the results of the matchmaker is avoided from the start a marriage bureau. The matching process is chargeable and costs normally U.S. $ 200.

If individuals have already get tested somewhere else, or are already engaged or married, they can no longer use the services of Dor Yeshorim to complete. The background is that Dor Yeshorim one hand in the run-up to both engagement, as will also prevent marriage of erbbelasteten gene carriers and the other hand on an already conducted testing the anonymity can not be preserved.

Methodology

By means of genetic testing is examined on the genotype occurring recessive hereditary diseases. Thus, the occurrence of genetic syndromes in the offspring should be significantly reduced.

It examines those gene sequences that are responsible for the occurrence of certain genetic diseases. Originally, this was the only Tay -Sachs disease. Over time, the following diseases have been added: Familial dysautonomia, cystic fibrosis, Canavan disease, glycogen storage disease ( type 1), Fanconi anemia (type C), Bloom syndrome, Niemann -Pick disease, mucolipidosis (type IV).

After controversy, an investigation on genetic sponsorship of Gaucher's disease (type I ) were included only if explicitly requested in the investigation.

Criticism

The process of meeting criticism from leading Orthodox rabbis who are of the opinion that this eugenic abetted, especially the notion that Jews carrier of "bad genes " are. We need only read about Jewish genes, instead of statistics about the screening in other populations, such as Icelanders, or the Amish to publish. It should prevail a sensitivity to the history of eugenics, especially in a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise worldwide. Given the tragic history of suffering through conscious ethnic discrimination, repeatedly refused the founder of Dor Yeshorim, Rabbi Ekstein to give interviews to Dor Yeroshim.