Opinion: Persian Tay-Sachs

Published on December 1, 2011

In the story, a young prince in an old and distant kingdom is mesmerized with salt.

Dramatic progress in in-vitro detection spurs new push for Ashkenazi Jews to do genetic disease test

By Hillel Kuttler, JTA
Published on August 24, 2011

Susan and Brad Stillman grew concerned following their son Benjamin�s birth in September 1998. He was fussy and congested, had difficulty breastfeeding and didn�t take to the bottle.

Breast is Best - Give me a Break!

By Julia Bendis
Published on May 12, 2011

Abraham’s Children: Genetic research opens book on Jewish identity—for good and bad

By Adam Wills
Published on December 26, 2008

A Decrease in Vigilance

By David Evanier
Published on January 25, 2001

A conference on genetic diseases held by the Cultural Foundation of Habib Levy in November led The Journal to examine the Jewish community's reduced state of awareness about genetic testing for prospective parents. During the past 30 years, large-scale genetic screening of Ashkenazi Jews in the U.S., Israel and other countries has reduced the number of babies born with Tay-Sachs, the most widely known Jewish genetic disease, by 90 percent. Yet today, younger Jews are less conscious of Tay-Sachs and even less aware of testing made available during the past five years for a newer array of genetic diseases. Geneticists and physicians confirmed that many people are not adequately informed about their genetic testing options. Regardless of their educational background, few individuals know if they fall into a high-risk category for genetically transmitted diseases. Experts interviewed maintain there has been a relaxation in vigilance about carrier screening and a consequential rise in danger signals for American Jews of Ashkenazi descent.

The Trouble with Testing

By Jason B. Kohn
Published on November 4, 1999

As if we don't have enough problems, it seems there's an unlimited supply of horrific hereditary diseases just waiting to ensnare Jews and their children. Tay-Sachs cripples infants before their first birthday and eventually kills them, Gaucher disease erodes healthy bones and organs, Niemann-Pick, cystic fibrosis, Crohn's, Canavan and dozens of others. And that's just among Eastern-European Ashkenazi Jews. A host of other hereditary diseases affect Sephardic, Iraqi and Persian Jews. Does somebody up there hate us?