SELECTED REFORM RESPONSA
however. As the source of the ovum will be known to both the parents and possibly the child, this may cause psychological difficulties. In case of normal family strife, will this situation aggravate matters? Are any pressures for donation being applied to the cousin? These and other issues must be carefully discussed with competent experts and a good deal of counselling must occur with the couple and also with the prospective donor. As the current divorce rate is high it would be wise to discuss this possibility and its ramifications also, painful though it may be. The possibility of a defective child should also be discussed.
Peru ur'vu is of course a major mitzvah and children are mentioned as an essential element of marriage many times by the traditional sources(M. Yeb. 6.6; Nidah 13b; Ket. 8a; Yeb. 61b; Yad Hil. Ishut 15.6; Tur and Shulhan Arukh Even Haezer 1.5) and lack of children was considered grounds for divorce(Shulhan Arukh Even Haezer 1.3 f, 154.10) although others disagreed. The mitzvah may, of course, be fulfilled through adoption ("Adoption and Adopted Children," W. Jacob, American Reform Responsa, # 63); this couple has chosen a different route. We would give reluctant
permission to use in vitro fertilization in the manner you have described. The potential problems are numerous and should lead to great caution.