Media Room

Nishmat’s Yoatzot Halacha Become Fertility Counselors

In an exciting new endeavor, Nishmat has joined forces with Keren Geffen  http://kerengefen.org/, to train and qualify Yoatzot Halacha (advisors in Jewish law) as Fertility Counselors (Melavot Poriyut) for fertility challenged women. 

This flagship program is currently training a cadre of the most experienced and scholarly Yoatzot Halacha to provide women a religiously expert supportive female address to help guide and navigate the halachic issues encountered during the fertility treatment process. 

The extensive training program with a demanding curriculum addresses medical, halachic, and psychological aspects of fertility issues. The Yoatzot participants are benefitting from frontal medical and psychological lectures, shiurim and independent learning, as well as role playing among the staff and students.

The program's core halachic studies are under the guidance of Rabbi Yaakov Warhaftig, Dean of Nishmat’s Keren Ariel Yoatzot Halacha Institute. Dr. Karen Friedman, founding director of Gefen Mind-Body Fertility Organization, together with clinical Psychologist, Dr. Rhonda Adessky, Director of Program Development at Gefen, head the program's psychological training. Dr. Jordana Hyman, Senior Physician in the dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology and in the IVF Unit, Hadassah, heads the medical training program which includes guest lectures from doctors who specialize in fertility from all over Israel.