Rabbis and Cantors play an important role in preparing young couples for marriage and future child-bearing. Clergy may be the first to discuss carrier screening with young couples.

The following will help facilitate a discussion about the importance of screening in these couples:

• A number of genetic disorders occur more frequently in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. Some of these diseases may be severe and result in the early death of a child. Carrier screening is available for all of these diseases with a simple blood test.
• All of these conditions are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. This means that an affected person has a change in both genes; one change inherited from each parent
• Carriers are healthy individuals who are only at risk for passing the gene change on to their children.
• If two carriers of a gene mutation for the same disorder have children, there is a 25% chance with each pregnancy of having an affected child.
• Emphasize the importance of being screened prior to pregnancy and the availability of reproductive options for couples who are both carriers of the same disease.
• Advise the couple to contact the Victor Centers for Jewish Genetic Diseases with their questions and concerns.
• Emphasize that being a carrier of a genetic disease is not life-threatening.

The Victor Centers Team is available to come to your local synagogue, community organization or college campus to provide education to your members about Jewish genetic diseases and the need for screening. Information on how to organize and implement a screening program can be provided as well. Contact us for more information, or to locate a genetics professional in your area, go to www.nsgc.org.