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Susan Kahn Easy Exam Guide

Susan Martha Kahn's chapter examines the intersection of women's reproductive roles and Jewish identity in Israel, highlighting the complexities introduced by modern fertility technologies like IVF and egg donation. The chapter discusses ongoing Halakhic debates regarding maternal identity and Jewish status, particularly when egg donors are non-Jewish. Kahn's fieldwork reveals the collaborative efforts of secular and religious professionals in fertility clinics, emphasizing the emotional and cultural dimensions of ovum donation and its implications for kinship and citizenship.

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Nancy Paul
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11 views1 page

Susan Kahn Easy Exam Guide

Susan Martha Kahn's chapter examines the intersection of women's reproductive roles and Jewish identity in Israel, highlighting the complexities introduced by modern fertility technologies like IVF and egg donation. The chapter discusses ongoing Halakhic debates regarding maternal identity and Jewish status, particularly when egg donors are non-Jewish. Kahn's fieldwork reveals the collaborative efforts of secular and religious professionals in fertility clinics, emphasizing the emotional and cultural dimensions of ovum donation and its implications for kinship and citizenship.

Uploaded by

Nancy Paul
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Easy Explanation of Susan Martha Kahn’s Chapter

Susan Martha Kahn's chapter "Jewish Origins: Eggs, Wombs, and Israeli Identity" explores how in
Israel, women's eggs and wombs are not just biological parts for reproduction but are central
to religious identity and citizenship. In Judaism, Jewish identity is passed through the
mother, so how motherhood is defined affects family and national belonging.

Modern fertility technologies like IVF and egg donation separate egg providers from birth
mothers, creating confusion in Jewish law (Halakha). Rabbis debate: Who is the real mother—the
egg donor or the woman who gives birth? This matters because being Jewish confers legal and
religious status in Israel.

Some rabbis favor the genetic mother, others the birth mother. A few suggest dual motherhood or
say the child has no legal mother. Most agree that the woman who gives birth is the mother in
Halakha.

Kahn's fieldwork at a Jerusalem fertility clinic shows that secular lab workers and religious
supervisors (maschgichot) work together. Only married couples are treated. Procedures are
observed to prevent mistakes, like mixing sperm. The shared goal is helping women conceive.

Egg collection (oocyte pick-up) must avoid uterine bleeding to prevent the woman from becoming
niddah (ritually impure), which would affect her ability to proceed with treatment. Doctors try
not to puncture the uterus, and rabbis may be consulted if bleeding occurs.

In the lab, fertilization is closely monitored to avoid mix-ups. After fertilization, embryos
are placed in the uterus or fallopian tubes. Staff celebrate when pregnancies occur, showing
emotional investment.

Halakhic debates continue: if the egg donor is non-Jewish, is the child Jewish if the birth
mother is Jewish? There is no single answer. Some say yes, others say conversion is needed.

Despite debates, ovum donation is common in Israel. Eggs are often donated by non-Jewish women,
including foreigners. Jewish women's eggs are preferred to avoid legal complications.

Egg selection involves religion, ethnicity, and appearance. Patients often choose based on
cultural preferences. The whole process mixes medical, religious, and personal concerns.

Kahn concludes that ovum technology challenges traditional ideas of kinship and Jewish
identity. Halakha must adapt to new scientific realities, but rabbis and doctors are still
figuring it out. This has major effects on family, citizenship, and what it means to be Jewish
today.

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