L'Taken Participant Lobbies For Stem Cell Research

March 12, 2015
By Ruthy Goldberg A few weeks ago I attended L’Taken, the RAC’s social justice seminar in Washington DC, with a few of my peers from Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, Maryland. During the program, we learned about a range of different topics from hunger, to the environment, to reproductive rights. On Monday we all had the opportunity to go lobby on Capitol Hill. I had the chance to lobby in both Senator Mikulski and Senator Cardin’s offices with my thoughts on embryonic stem cell research; how this topic relates to me personally and how it relates to me as a Reform Jew. The science of embryonic stem cell research has the capacity to save lives, speed recovery, and improve the quality of life for people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and certain types of cancers, amongst other serious conditions. Stem cells are cells that can potentially develop into any kind of cell, tissue or organ in the body. Scientists are experimenting with ways to prompt the stem cells into becoming whatever type of cell is needed to fix or replace damaged cells. I can only imagine the difference stem cells could have made for my grandfather, who had Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s made fine motor skills such as handwriting and buttoning a shirt difficult for him. It also made him stiff which eventually resulted in him falling and breaking his hip. Further research on embryonic stem cells would help not just my grandfather, but also, the 29.1 million children and adults in the United States with diabetes and 106 million people worldwide who are projected to have Alzheimer’s disease by 2050. Jewish text holds that human beings are charged with doing everything possible to save another person’s life. Our tradition requires that we utilize all of our knowledge and abilities in order to heal the sick. ‘When one delays in doing so, it is as if he has shed blood’”(Shulchan Arukh Yore De’ah 336:1). Jewish tradition teaches us that we are obligated to do everything possible to save another person’s life. We must utilize our knowledge and abilities in order to heal the sick. Furthermore, Judaism teaches that if we have the capacity to save lives, and if someone dies as a result of our delay, then we are responsible for their death. Judaism teaches us the importance of supporting Embryonic Stem Cell research. The Stem Cell Research Advancement Act would allow the federal government to fund this research when it’s re-introduced. To learn more, check out the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism’s issue page on bioethics.

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