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August 17, 2001/Av 28, 5761, Vol. 53, No.45
Jewish groups mixed on stem cell decision
SHARON SAMBER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
WASHINGTON - Jewish groups are offering muted praise to President Bush's decision to allow some federal funding for stem cell research, hoping that it is only the first step to more expansive government support.
Many groups praised Bush's decision, but - since it will allow funding for research only on about 60 existing stem cell lines - expressed hope that the scope of funding would be expanded in the future.
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, said it is "cautiously optimistic" about the decision.
The Orthodox Union, which recently came out in favor of stem cell research, said it is comfortable with Bush's stance.
"Our limits would have been more expansive," said Nathan Diament, director of the Orthodox Union's Institute for Public Affairs. "But there's nothing wrong with proceeding with caution."
But the National Council of Jewish Women said it is "deeply disappointed" by the president's decision, calling it too narrow and restricting.
Some scientists worry that going too slowly will hinder medical progress.
In his first prime-time speech to Americans, Bush laid out the arguments for both sides of the issue.
One side essentially says stem cell research could bring cures to many diseases and notes that many embryos will be destroyed anyway.
The other side views embryos as human beings and their destruction as immoral.
Bush's compromise plan allowed him to sidestep the difficult ethical questions that would have come with a decision either to fully support or to ban such research.
"I have concluded that we should allow federal funds to be used for research on these existing stem cell lines, where the life-and-death decision has already been made," Bush said.
During the campaign - and as recently as May - Bush said he would oppose federally funded research or experimentation on embryonic stem cells that requires living human embryos to be destroyed.
Most Jewish ethicists agree that tradition allows embryos to be destroyed if the research has the potential to benefit society. Polls show a majority of Americans support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
A stem cell is a special kind of cell that has a unique capacity to renew itself and to develop into specialized cell types. Researchers use stem cells to replace cells that are damaged or diseased.
Many believe stem cell research may yield cures for Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease and more.
A recently released report from the National Institutes of Health found that both embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells "present immense research opportunities for potential therapy."
But while embryonic stem cells can proliferate indefinitely, adult stem cells cannot.
Rabbi Richard Address, director of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations' Department of Jewish Family Concerns, said Bush had opted for a "safe decision."
"I wish it went further," he said, but acknowledged the political reality Bush faced.
Address said he hopes this step will allow people to reflect on the linkages between tradition and medical technology, and make these matters part of the public discourse.
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