A Productive Visit to Hillel Yaffe

Rabbis from Puah Institute visited the new IVF Unit. Unit Director Dr. Ellenbogen said, "We are delighted that Puah members can see the department's new home"

18/07/2011

Puah rabbis and rabbis from Hadera Municipality with Prof. Motti Helek and Dr. Ellenbogen during the visit to the department

Photo: Zion Yechezkel

Last week, Hillel Yaffe's IVF Unit hosted a special group of rabbis who visited the unit's new home, staff and various capabilities. The rabbis, nearly all members of Puah Institute, an organization dedicated to providing guidance and counseling to couples on infertility that is in keeping with halacha (Jewish law), were invited by Unit Director, Dr. Adrian Ellenbogen, due to their longstanding work together in helping couples with fertility treatment.

"The collaboration with the Puah Institute," said Dr. Ellenbogen, "is recognition of the various procedures that require different halachic interpretations in Judaism as well as in Islam, procedures that are vital to many couples who require fertility treatments in order to become pregnant. Because these rabbis frequently are called on to explain the procedures involved, we believe it important that the rabbis become familiar with the new location out of which our IVF Unit operates along with the latest equipment and technologies used in fertility treatments in general, and IVF treatments in particular. The new site is also more spacious and the staff is highly dedicated."

The visit included Puah Institute founder, Rabbi Menachem Burstein, the Chief Rabbi of Hadera, Rabbi David Warner, Rabbi Shimon Biton and Rabbi Israel Meir Biton, Rabbi of Pardes Hanna, Rabbi Yacov Margalit and other rabbis who are members of the Puah Institute. The reception was also attended by the management of HYMC, headed by Prof. Meir Oren, who praised the work of the unit's staff.

During the visit, Director of the Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science Department Prof. Motti Helek reviewed all of the procedures carried out in the department. Dr. Ellenbogen presented his unit's statistics. The rabbis praised the department staff for their impressive success rates, which reflected a general pregnancy rate that was 10% higher than the national average rate for IVF pregnancies. The rabbis also formed a strong impression regarding the department's therapeutic approach, which was defined as 'friendly' – an approach that facilitates tailoring treatment to the patient, and hormone-free treatments (egg maturation under lab conditions) and in treatments in natural cycles.

The rabbis then got a peek of the unit's state-of-the art labs as well as of the treatment room and operating room located nearby.

Puah Institute director Rabbi Burstein summarized the visit as "as successful, interesting and, of course, productive." This statement was added to the blessing given by the rabbis when they entered the unit