Many people hesitate when considering taking donated sperm or sperm donation. Are you scared or nervous about getting sperm from your Jewish sperm donor? We have listed 5 things you need to know about Jewish sperm.
- Jewish laws prohibit masturbation
Sperm donation is primarily through masturbation into a tube or a vial. Other modern methods of sperm extraction include the use of tiny syringes to collect semen through Intra-Vitro sperm collection. Here the sex therapists use a syringe to extract sperm for the testicles.
According to Judaism, all these extraction processes are illegal. The religion prohibits any form of sexual stimulation not involving your partner. According to this scripture, the only way to discharge your semen is through vaginal penetration.
The teaching is clear. It encourages Jews to go forth and fill the earth with their off-springs. Unfortunately, nature isn’t that generous, and it has cursed these races with genetic mutations.
As per an article on the My Jewish Learning Website, a prevailing scholarly notion suggests that impurity is associated with the depletion of life energy. In the context of masturbation, there is concern that it may pollute the individual who engages in it. This objection stems from the belief that masturbation diminishes a man’s sexual energy, posing a potential threat to his overall health and well-being. Consequently, both the exposed semen and the man himself are considered impure.
This dilemma is frustrating to the largely conservative Jewish men. On one hand, they need sperm to help support their dwindling families. Yet on the other, their beliefs prevent them from accessing the very jewels they need to procreate.
- Jewish sperms are in demand
The paradox of masturbation prohibition and the genetic complication stifles the supply of quality Jewish sperms. Sperm banks have tried to promote the benefits of donating sperms with emphasis on the Jewish sperms.
However, getting a large pool of willing Jewish men to donate sperm is difficult. The willing donors who come forward are usually from other countries, especially from the US.
Besides, the pre-donation screening and testing of sperm suppliers are rigorous. Of all the men who apply for sperm donation, only 15% meet the steep requirements.
These successful sperm-donor applicants are selected not just for high-quality and excessive volume sperms. They also must be tall (over 5’10”) and of college education, preferably doing a STEM program.
Over and above these factors, donor candidates have to consent to a psychometric exam and study your medical tree for past mental illnesses or irrational behaviors.
Very few men meet these requirements. This makes sperm collection slow, resulting in high demand for Jewish blood.
- Environmental constraints affect Jewish sperm health
Environmental issues affect male fertility. Sperm quality and quantity are an integral part of this virility. According to Environmental Sciences Europe, a plethora of recent studies have demonstrated the detrimental impact of air pollution on reproductive outcomes for both males and females. For example, air pollution has a significant effect on semen quality in males. Researchers have observed that exposure to air pollution leads to increased sperm Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation, morphological changes in sperm, and reduced sperm motility.
But specific environment within Israel plays a role in the Jewish sperm problem.
A large chunk of Israel is a desert and uses an irrigated system of cropping. Most crops are grown using wastewater. Unfortunately, the water treatment is not refined, allowing infertility-causing substances to find their way into the produce.
The harvests are filled with estrogen-compounding chemicals, which deplete the sperm count in Jewish men.
As they ingest these harmful chemicals with their meals, they quench their hunger. But the extent to which these meals destroy men’s reproductive cells is startling.
The effects of these foods on cells mutation to the spreading of more than forty different genetic disorders, the outcome are unparalleled. More than a quarter of Jewish men exhibit some form of a genetic disorder.
Despite their best efforts to curb environmental pollution, these factors persist. The Askenazi subsect of the Jews is the most affected.
Canava – a genetic brain disorder is an extreme mutation brought about by the contaminated environment.
- Most Jewish men have a low sperm count
Sperm volume has been on the decline throughout the entire western hemisphere. Studies show that the average sperm concentration is about a 70million per milligram.
But this decline is almost 45% of the levels seen a decade ago. There are many theories to this dwindling sperm production amongst men from Europe and North America. The most notable ones are climate change, endocrine-disruptors, and sedentary lifestyles.
But in Israel, things are on the brinks. And the decline in fertility the western men pales in comparison to the sperm situation in Israel.
A study done in 2012 found that the prime Israeli men’s fertility is declining fast. The study predicts that if this decline persists, then it would register a sperm concentration of only 20 million per millimeter in the next fifteen years.
This volume just braces the region bordering low sperm levels. It’s still unknown how much the average Jewish man’s sperm count is. But according to two sperm banks, it’s critically low.
According to Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper, a study led by Dr. Ronit Haimov-Kokhman revealed a concerning trend. It indicated a 40-percent decrease in the concentration of sperm cells among sperm donors in the country between 2004 and 2008 when compared to donors from 1995 to 1999. The impact of this decline is evident in Hadassah’s sperm bank, which is currently rejecting two-thirds of potential donors due to low-quality sperm, a significant increase compared to the one-third rejection rate observed in the past.
- Lack of sperm donors
Environmental factors have led to lower sperm concentration. Further, Jewish laws prohibit masturbation.
The two combinations are causing sperm shortage, while infertility is high. Meaning that demand far outstrips supply.
Worst still, despite the strict self-pleasuring restriction, cultural issues make compound the difficulties in identifying and recruiting suitable sperm donors.
Thus Jewish sperm banks are reeling from a lack of donors. They have initiated marketing campaign blitzes to attract young men to offer their male genes for donation.
Still, these sought-after men are not forthcoming, mainly due to a combination of the above factors. And sperm collected from willing donors don’t make the mark.
More than two-thirds of all samples get rejected due to poor quality and other factors. As such, sperm clinics have lowered their donor screening and acceptance threshold to expand the donor base.
Even with a cash incentive to attract virile men to come forward and share their genes, only 10% of the captured semen is of acceptable quality.
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- Conflicting protocols
Isreal lacks quality sperm. Hence, sperm banks are making a kill.
A fertility clinic in Isreal confirms that it imports more than a quarter of sperm needs. Most donors are open, meaning that they consent to reveal their identities.
Though in Isreal, the sperm donation laws require that donors’ data are kept private. Still, these outlets accept quality sperms from non-Jewish men.
These are mostly from the Orthodox community, who according to Jews, are religiously related to them.
Due to sperm scarcity, some rabbis are advocating that fertilization be accepted between Jews and non-Jewish to prevent incest if the offspring unknowingly marry a sibling decades later.
But the Jewish sperm donor laws also complicate issues. A child born by a Jewish female using non-Jewish sperm is illegitimate. According to Jewish laws, the child is fatherless.
This is a catch-22 situation. The Jewish men aren’t allowed to masturbate so can’t donate sperm. Yet a child born from non-Jewish sperm is an outcast.
- Sperm donation criteria are lax
Due to the acute shortage of Jewish sperm, most fertility clinics have slackened their stringent qualification for sperm donations. This still hasn’t helped this chronic shortage.
More than two third of all prospective sperm donors in Israel get rejected due to low fertility levels. This is far too high a proportion after getting the initial green light to donate their genes.
Many sperm banks are even inducing men with cash payments to volunteer towards this sperm donation process. For about $300 for each sample, this is a steep price.
But even with this financial inducement, the sperm banks aren’t increasing. In some sperm collection facilities, only one out of every ten sperm volunteers have quality sperm meeting the criteria.
Catchy adverts next to the university hostels don’t still bring any difference. The issue is more with the quality of sperm.
And even when potential donors have virile sperm, the extraction method is also another issue.
- Jews have poor sperm diversity
One of the reasons for poor sperm collection is the narrow Jewish genetic diversity. This situation is called the Ashkenazi disease.
This condition, a variant of Tay-Sach, is a congenital genetic disease that affects babies and children. It’s called so since it’s prominent in the Jewish community of Ashkenazi descent.
To guard against this nervous paralysis syndrome which is usually fatal, Israeli sperm banks take over 44 tests on the prospective donor. And additional tests are also done on the mother of the potential sperm donor.
When these tests are performed, even men who don’t know they have Jewish lineage are surprised to find that they are Jews. Some exhibit this symptom.
Thus potential donors get stymied due to this prevalent condition afflicting Jewish blood.
Unfortunately, most Jewish people in the UK and other counties are descendants of this subsector. So the possibility of their men having this nerve-wreaking disease is high.
- Jewish law prohibits sperm usage
The Torah, the Jewish holy book, dwells a lot about abortion and sexual fulfillment. A woman is allowed to have intimacy with only one man, her husband.
Thus she can’t have sex with another man who isn’t married to her. But the man is allowed to have sex with unmarried women.
If the woman was married, there is ascribed divorce procedure that must be fulfilled and officiated by a competent Rabbi. An unmarried woman (either who has never been married or is properly divorced) can accept sex from a married man.
Jewish law doesn’t prohibit married men from extramarital sex since it accepts mal polygamy. But here is where complications begin.
If you have male infertility issues, your wife can’t seek sperm donation from another man. It has to be you alone, or else the law considers this approach as an adulterous move.
And since the law prohibits masturbation, then getting sperm is difficult.
In conclusion, we discussed everything we know about Jewish sperm. Therefore, we hope that the five things we have mentioned above can help you understand more about Jewish sperm and how they are different from normal sperm.
SIMILAR QUESTION
What Does Judaism Say About Artificial Insemination?
Introduction
The issue of artificial insemination (AI) in Judaism is a contentious one, with rabbis taking different positions on the matter. AI involves the use of medical interventions to facilitate conception, often involving sperm from a donor. This paper aims to explore the position of Judaism on AI and the various arguments for and against its use.
Rabbinical Positions on AI
Rabbis from the Conservative and Reform movements have been generally supportive of AI. The Conservative movement has stated that its members are free to use AI as a solution for couples who are having difficulty conceiving. This movement has embraced AI as an effective and ethical form of fertility treatment. Similarly, the Reform movement has endorsed AI as a way for couples to have children when they would otherwise be unable to do so.
In contrast, the Orthodox movement has taken a more conservative stance on AI. This movement does not generally condone the use of AI, as it is seen as a violation of the traditional Jewish belief that conception should be the result of a sexual union between a husband and wife. However, some Orthodox rabbis have allowed for the use of AI under certain circumstances, such as when a couple is unable to conceive naturally for medical reasons, or when a husband is infertile.
Arguments For and Against AI
The arguments in favor of AI have largely been grounded in the idea of helping couples who are unable to conceive naturally. AI has been seen as a way for these couples to have a family and experience the joys of parenthood. In addition, AI has been seen as a way to reduce the stigma associated with infertility, as it allows couples to have children without having to explain the reasons for their infertility.
However, there are also arguments against AI. Some have argued that AI is a violation of traditional Jewish values, as it does not involve the union of a husband and wife. In addition, AI can be seen as a form of genetic modification, which has been criticized by some as being unethical and contrary to Jewish values. Finally, AI can be seen as a way of circumventing the natural process of procreation, which can be seen as a violation of Jewish law.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the issue of AI in Judaism is a contentious one, with rabbis taking different positions on the matter. The Conservative and Reform movements have generally been supportive of AI, while the Orthodox movement has taken a more conservative stance on the matter. There are arguments both for and against AI, with some seeing it as a way to help couples who are unable to conceive naturally, while others have argued that it is a violation of traditional Jewish values. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use AI is a deeply personal one, and should be made with due consideration of the various religious and ethical implications.
