TEST TUBE BABY Walter Jacob

QUESTION: Recently an embryo was successfully formed from an egg fertilized by her husband's sperm. It was then implanted in the wife's womb and developed into a full-term baby. Is this form of insemination permissible for Jewish parents who otherwise could not have children? Is it permissible to fertilize several such eggs, store the embryos and implant them in others?(S. M. L., Pittsburgh , PA )*

ANSWER: It is clear that these techniques are now available. Although some refinements still need to be made before they can be widely practiced, it is possible to fertilize an egg under laboratory conditions and implant it in the mother's womb. It is also possible to freeze the embryos of livestock and keep them over long periods of time. On subsequent implantation, they develop into full-fledged, normal animals. This has been done regularly with livestock and could, presumably, be done with human beings. Various aspects of these questions will be discussed separately.

Jewish authorities have favored the principle that every individual at least reproduce himself, and so a couple should have a minimum of two children(Yeb. 62b; Yad Hil. Ishut 15.16; Shulhan Arukh Even Haezer 1.8). This was Hillel's interpretation of peru urvu. Parents have been encouraged to have at least two children. This remains high on the Jewish agenda despite the general mood of birth control, as we remain a very small endangered minority.

In keeping with this principle, it has always been considered a sin to emit sperm for an act other than procreation(San. 108b; Nidah 13a; R. H. 12a: Yad Hil. Issurei Biah 21). This has led Orthodox authorities to prohibit various methods of birth control. Here, however, we are not dealing with the misuse of the sperm, but simply the fertilization outside of the normal

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