DEVELOPING HALAKHIC ATTITUDES TO SEX PRESELECTION

Shabbat- in this respect- provides a useful analogy for the broader human experience. In a civilization which assumes an ever-increasing technological mastery over the parameters of life itself, is there a point at which a"technological Shabbat" should be proclaimed? Is there a moment when- in the name of a higher spiritual ideal- a choice should be made not to use some of the technologies that are now at our disposal?

After due consideration of these issues, the progressive Jew might well take the path of discouraging efficient sex preselection methods as representing a level of certainty which it is metaphysically undesirable for humans to command. By so doing, progressive Jews would eloquently express a preference for an approach to halakhic values that applauds the technology of modernity, and yet voluntarily preserves elements of life's mystery.

DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN EFFICIENT AND UNCERTAIN SEX PRESELECTION METHODS

If, then, these efficient techniques, which hold out the promise of certainty, would meet with varying degrees of Jewish opposition, the remaining issue to be explored concerns whether uncertain techniques ­which cannot aspire to 100 percent success- would encounter the same reaction. Two popular age-old areas of interest have recently been revived in modern versions, with attainment rates that have aroused interest. First, a new dietetic method has found contemporary proponents: The diet suggests that in order to achieve a girl one should consume no salty foods, but can have dairy and fruit. The diet for a boy is the reverse, requiring plenty of salt rich foods"such as ham and bacon," with certain fruits and vegetables, but"shellfish and nuts are out." In two studies using such diets, 39 out of 47 conceiving couples achieved their desired choice in one sample, and 27 out of 31 in the other, thereby reaching success levels above 80 percent.* Given that a Jew could make some food substitutions in the regimen, would Judaism sanction such dietetic sex preselection practices?