Advancements in reproductive medicine have opened incredible possibilities for individuals and couples facing fertility challenges. Technologies like egg donation, sperm donation, and gestational surrogacy have helped many build families in ways that were once unimaginable. At the same time, these innovations raise complex and deeply personal halachic questions—particularly around the Jewish status of children born through third-party reproduction. In this class, we'll explore key Talmudic texts and halachic principles that rabbinic authorities rely on when addressing these issues. We'll also discuss how these rulings play out in real-life practice and examine the most common approaches in the Orthodox community today.

Sarah Cheses serves as a Yoetzet Halacha for the greater New England region through the New England Yoetzet Halacha Initiative, in which she advises women on topics related to Jewish marriage and women’s health. She enjoys teaching Torah to people of all ages, and serves as a Dean of Students at Maimonides School in Brookline, MA. She is a graduate of Nishmat's Yoetzet Halacha and Fertility Counseling programs and holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from Columbia University. Sarah lives in Sharon, MA, with her husband and four children.