Dear friends,
It’s been a while since we sent you our standard newsletter – and you can probably guess why.
Every day at Tahareinu is a whirlwind of hundreds of phone calls, reams of new information, and countless interactions with people like you.
We are so pleased to be back with the latest innovations and a quick recap of some of our new developments.
Enjoy the read – and we look forward to hearing from you.
Wishing you a beautiful Yom Tov,
Rabbi Yitzchok Melber
FEMASEED: A BREAKTHROUGH IN IUI
In a game changer development for couples going through the IUI/IVF journey, the Femasys brand has introduced a new method of intrauterine insemination known as Femaseed.
For the last 25 years, couples struggling with infertility had options for the most basic level of treatment via medication, and if that was not successful they would graduate to IUI and then IVF. In cases where male factor was also an issue, they often skipped the IUI stage.
For many couples, IUI was merely a gateway to IVF due to its low success rate. As we know, IVF is a financially, physically, and emotionally draining process and not the most preferable option Halachically, but there was no other choice.
Now for the first time, the FDA has approved a different mechanism for IUI that is four times more successful. This is suitable for more complicated and male factor cases.
“For more than 20 years, current approaches to infertility treatment have been limited during the initial stage of therapeutic care, but with the advancement of FemaSeed, we believe a next generation intrauterine procedure may have the opportunity to truly change this traditional paradigm.”
Michael Glassner, MD
Note: This is new in the USA, with limited research. However, the potential is enormous, especially for Jewish couples.
- Assists people who can’t afford IVF, especially for secondary infertility.
- It is not an emotional investment, with no major injections and investment, and can be accompanied by very basic treatments such as Letrozole/Clomid.
- Physically, it is easy to execute, as it is more natural and similar to the body’s process.
- Halachically/Hashkafically, all Rabbanim are on board with this, versus IVF which is questionable to some. In addition, there is no need for Hashgacha during IUI.
That said, IUI is still a medical procedure. We encourage people who need interventions to have open communication with their medical providers and Rabbanim about their individual case.
TAHAREINU IN FIVE TOWNS:
A day whose time had come
As is well known, Rabbi Yitzchok Melber, founder and director of Tahareinu, makes his way across the globe to attend medical conferences in all areas of women’s health and fertility. As the impact of Tahareinu grows worldwide, he has also made it his mission to visit communities and spread knowledge and hope to their environs.
Now, it was the Five Towns’ turn.
Rabbi Yaakov Bender warmly invited Rabbi Melber to Yeshiva Darchei Torah to deliver a comprehensive lecture to a group of the community’s Rabbanim in areas of medical innovations and their Halachic implications. It is vital for Rabbanim to have a firm grasp on both the realities of women’s health and fertility as well their intersection with Halacha, and Rabbi Melber is uniquely qualified to present both.
Rabbi Melber’s astounding breadth of knowledge in these areas impressed and inspired the many who stood to gain from it.
In fact, immediately after the seminar, Tahareinu received requests from myriad other communities who got word of the valuable lecture and are looking for the same.
On the same trip, Rabbi Melber took the time to meet with parents who have married children living in Israel who are navigating the fertility landscape, coaching them on how to guide their children through the complexities of the Israeli healthcare system in both the medical and technical realms. This was immeasurably empowering for parents who can now assist their married couples even from afar.
No less importantly, Rabbi Melber provided personal consultations with numerous local couples to review their specific fertility circumstances and delve deeper into possible solutions. As always, Tahareinu is available for in-depth case management, often resulting in the final Yeshua, B’Ezras Hashem.
This whirlwind trip was a meaningful and memorable one, and both the community leaders and Tahareinu’s leaders look forward to further cementing this special relationship.
The impact is felt throughout the Five Towns Kehila and will continue to reverberate with many Simchos, with Hashem’s help.
TAHAREINU IN LONDON
Today, Tahareinu services more than 80 cities and well over 50,000 callers each year. Despite its steady growth, its founders still take an active role in providing personal guidance and direction for couples who struggle in the area of taharah and fertility. Towards these ends, Rabbi Yitzchok and Rebbetzin Chaya Melber maintain a busy schedule of international visits to attend seminars, meetings and medical conferences to provide continued care in a manner that appropriately meets the needs of each community.
One example of this continued care was during the couples’ most recent visit to London which was scheduled around the Menucha “BigTalk Exhibition” on the topic of Women’s Health. Rebbetzin Melber joined a panel of experts at the exhibition to share essential and practical information regarding PCOS (a common fertility-affecting condition). In a clear and informative presentation, she shared some of the most recent updates in this developing field of medicine and fielded questions from participants.
Back at the Tahareinu Centre in Golders Green, Rabbi Melber’s met with a dozen couples throughout the day to provide personalised guidance regarding taharah and fertility issues. The sessions, which had been booked in advance, provided bespoke advice and “signposting” for appropriate forms of treatment. Often, there is no textbook response for couples facing a particular issue and it is advised to speak through the relevant details with a well-informed expert to ensure that they will be provided with the most appropriate, up-to-date information in a manner that is consistent both with high halachic standards and local availability.
After this, Rabbi Melber met with Tahareinu’s local Nasi, Rabbi Yisroel Meir Greenberg for halachic and hashkafic guidance regarding the organisation’s local development, forthcoming programming and a number of specific ongoing cases. Discussions also covered recent developments regarding treatments for infertility and matters affecting taharah.
Finally, Rabbi Melber paid a visit to the newly opened private healthcare Refuah Clinic in Stamford Hill where he met with medical director Dr Elisha Kahen to discuss the development of the Clinic’s Women’s Health department. In the meeting, which lasted over 2 hours, Rabbi Melber shared his international research and experience and offered suggestions as to how the new Clinic could be best equipped to service local members of the Kehillah with matters pertaining to taharah and fertility.
Commenting on their recent visit to London, Rabbi Melber noted that “a big part of Tahareinu’s success is our collaboration with local Kehillah organisations and rabbonim. With the help of these organisations, we translate a wealth of cutting-edge research and experience to provide advice that is suitable to local systems and that can be used by willing experts in that area.
“In addition to working within local Kehillah infrastructure, we aim to empower couples by educating them of the advantages and disadvantages of the various forms of treatment that are available to them. We bring the most up-to-date research to Kehillos around the world and can transform the treatment pathways they choose, informing them of more effective, swifter, less invasive, cheaper results and more Mehadrin options. I encourage anyone who requires assistance in this area to speak with our local director, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Ollech for further information or to arrange a meeting.”
The couples’ visit comes just months after the founding of Tahareinu’s local Centre in Golders Green which provides advice, resources and a discreet consultation room for couples struggling in this area
Commenting on their recent visit to London, Rabbi Melber noted that “a big part of Tahareinu’s success is our collaboration with local Kehillah organisations and rabbonim. With the help of these organisations, we translate a wealth of cutting-edge research and experience to provide advice that is suitable to local systems and that can be used by willing experts in that area.
“In addition to working within local Kehillah infrastructure, we aim to empower couples by educating them of the advantages and disadvantages of the various forms of treatment that are available to them. We bring the most up-to-date research to Kehillos around the world and can transform the treatment pathways they choose, informing them of more effective, swifter, less invasive, cheaper results and more Mehadrin options. I encourage anyone who requires assistance in this area to speak with our local director, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Ollech for further information or to arrange a meeting.”
The couples’ visit comes just months after the founding of Tahareinu’s local Centre in Golders Green which provides advice, resources and a discreet consultation room for couples struggling in this area
CONNECTION AND COLLABORATION:
Recently, Tahareinu hosted two renowned doctors in its office in Israel, perpetuating the positive connections that help us help our patients across the globe
- Dr. Richard Grazi, Reproductive Endocrinologist and founder of Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine in Brooklyn and the Five Towns is always happy to assist Tahareinu-referred patients.
- Dr. Jonathan Ringo of Baltimore came to further his collaborations with Tahareinu, meeting doctors in Israel and Rabbi Melber in his office.
MORE ADVISORS, MORE ASSISTANCE
We are so thrilled to announce that due to the overwhelming success of our hotline, we now have a new cohort of advisors on the cusp of completing their intense training. In total 80 women will be dedicating their time and energy to help callers from every part of the Jewish world – with their signature expertise and compassion.
We look forward to serving you further.
Call the Tahareinu Hotline!
Got a question about relieving tahara problems, infertility, reproductive health, pain or other related issues?
call the Tahareinu hotline
For ongoing infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, or reproductive genetic issues,
you and your spouse are warmly invited to schedule an in-person, phone or Zoom consultation with our founder and president, Rabbi Yitzchok Melber.
Please send an email to rabbimelber@tahareinu.com Include your first name and location, and briefly describe your issue.
Personal consultations are for more involved reproductive issues. Note the Israel
office has reopened for in-person consultations, in line with the country’s coronavirus status.
IMPORTANT
Most Tahareinu issues are addressed by our hotline advisors, 13 hours a day, 5 days a week. If you are unsure whether to schedule a consultation, call the hotline first.