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ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION Alexander Guttmann QUESTION: Is artificial insemination permitted by Jewish Law?
ANSWER: Talmudic and Rabbinic sources do not discuss, nor even mention, artificial insemination as understood(and practiced) in our day. Artificial insemination, with which we are concerned, is premeditated, planned. he physician performs it upon request by the parents, applying either the husband's sperm or that of a stranger. In the latter case, the identity of the donor must not be revealed to the parents(nor to the resulting child, of course).
Yet, since artificial insemination concerns family life- an area meticulously regulated and steadily supervised by Jewish religious leaders of all times- it is quite natural that rabbis of our day investigate matter in order to find a solution that would be character with Jewish practice and thought.
In an attempt at a solution of the problem, the first step, as a matter of course, is to search for sources that may have some bearing on the subject. Whereas many passages from Talmud and Rabbinic literature could be, somehow, linked to the problem(as has been done), only those passages shall be discussed her which possess(or are believed to possess) real significance for the issue:
1. In Talmud Bavli (Hagiga 14b), the question is raised whether a virgin who became pregnant is allowed to be married by the High Priest(in view of Leviticus 21:13-14, Ishah bivtuleiha). Subsequently(14b-15a) the Possibilities of a virgin's becoming pregnant ar discussed. One of the possibilities suggested is that she was impregnated in a bath(from seed deposited there by a man).
Let us keep in mind that this incident, considered by some rabbis as being analogous to artificial insemination. is, in fact an accident, a calamity;
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