Local observers say science carries difficult implications
LENI REISS
Senior Contributing Editor
Whether or not gender selection is a Jewishly acceptable practice is complicated at best. Rabbi William Berk of Temple Chai in Phoenix precedes his comments on the subject with a smile - and a caveat:
"In matters of Jewish law," he says, "there is a legitimate, time-honored response that rabbis can give to a question on such a sensitive topic. It is 'I don't know.' "
"With that as a given," he goes on to say that when health is a concern he supports "the use of any technology to save a life." But he says that he is reticent to advocate the use of technology in gender pre-selection.
"A great deal of thought would have to be given as to the consequences," Berk says. "On the one hand, one could imagine the great relief for a religiously committed family to have children of both sexes. But, on the other hand, we ought to tremble a little when approaching the possibility of playing God."
There is nothing "theologically problematic in trying to understand genetics and fertilization," says Joel Gereboff, "especially if findings can be used to human good." Gereboff, chair of the religious studies department at Arizona State University in Tempe, says the subject came to the fore several years ago, "at least hypothetically," when scientific advances first made possible births resulting from test-tube and in-vitro fertilization and surrogate motherhood.
The question, says Gereboff, "is whether or not choosing the sex of a child is a benefit to human beings - to serve larger purposes of human existence. In that instance it could well be encouraged."
One example would be a situation wherein genetic intervention would find and identify the cause of Tay-Sachs disease. "In that case, where with human involvement there can be human betterment, some ethicists would maintain that intervention should be required."
"But would gender selection do anyone any good?," Gereboff muses. "Or would it more likely be a step backward regarding equality of the sexes, especially when one lives in a society that clearly has been to the disadvantage of women?"
"The Jewish view okays abortion under certain circumstances," he notes, "but I can't imagine any circumstances under which gender selection would be acceptable."
The classical debate in the Talmud regarding the halachic stipulation that a man should sire both a son and a daughter is open to interpretation, Gereboff says. "Do you have to have two children to fulfill the commandment 'more than one,' " he asks, "or do you have to have one of each gender?"
It all comes down to how Jews understand God's role and God's involvement "in the minutiae of daily events," Gereboff suggests.
|