Dor Yeshorim’s annual Bein Hazmanim Pesach screening event is just around the corner, taking place this week. Starting on Sunday, May 1^st, 2016, Dor Yeshorim’s expert teams of phlebotomists and representatives will be visiting various communities across the tristate area, offering their lifesaving genetic screenings.

Dor Yeshorim will be in Boro Park on Sunday, May 1^st, screening at the Veiner Shul, from five to eight pm; in Lakewood on Monday, May 2^nd, at the Yeshiva Ketana Hall, from six to nine pm; in Monsey on Tuesday, May 3^rd, at Mesivta Beis Shraga, from six to nine pm; and in Williamsburg on Wednesday, May 4^th, at the Spinka Shul, from one to three pm. The screenings in these locations will take place for males only.

Dor Yeshorim, the pioneer in genetic screening and prevention, has developed an efficient and highly successful screening process that enables testing for all individuals in a simple and easy manner. Participants will need to fill out their date of birth, ancestry (whether they are of Ashkenazic or Sephardic descent, or both, etc.), their grandparents’ country of origin, and (optional) social security number.

Dor Yeshorim’s unique screening program is built on the premise of protecting the confidentiality of all those it tests. In doing so it helps individuals avoid the heartache and stigma associated with knowing that one is a carrier and the subsequent jeopardization of shidduchim. After being tested, each participant will receive his own, unique, nine-digit identification number that will be the only way he is identified at Dor Yeshorim.

Within three to four months, the results of the screening will be available, though participants will not be told what their carrier status is. Dor Yeshorim also offers expedited results for an additional fee. Before a prospective couple meets, they should call Dor Yeshorim with their ID numbers and dates of birth. Dor Yeshorim will respond to the inquiry with a phone call saying yes, or no – they are compatible, or not. If a couple is found to be incompatible, Dor Yeshorim will offer them guidance as to what the next steps they take should be.

Through its genetic testing programs, Dor Yeshorim has been responsible for saving more than 4,600 families from having children born with fatal recessive genetic diseases that once plagued Klal Yisroel. It is also responsible for the complete closure of the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center Tay Sachs ward, due to a lack of patients. Because of their work, they have been able to save Klal Yisroel so much pain and anguish, making sure that our children are born healthy.

Dor Yeshorim’s premarital screening program is only available for individuals who are not engaged, married or previously tested elsewhere. Dor Yeshorim encourages all young men and women to get tested early, before entering the world of shidduchim. By doing so, they can be spared the anxiety of having to wait for results while in the throes of the shidduch process.

In striving to make its genetic screenings accessible and affordable for everyone, Dor Yeshorim offers the tests to all participants at a highly subsidized fee. DNA testing, the constant research of newly discovered diseases and the development of the most reliable testing methods costs thousands upon thousands of dollars. But Dor Yeshorim gladly takes it on so it can continue to ensure “doros yeshorim umevorachim,” future healthy generations and that Klal Yisroel is fully protected against genetic diseases. It relies heavily on donors who share in its mission to be able to fund all its programs.

The scope of Dor Yeshorim spans far beyond its premarital genetic screening program. Dor Yeshorim constantly spearheads ongoing genetic research, to be able to prevent more tragedy and suffering from pervading Klal Yisroel. After many years of research and realizing how prevalent genetic disease is among the Sephardic community as well, it has recently expanded its program to include a Sephardic testing panel. This lifesaving organization also does everything it can to help families that are currently affected with or previously unidentified rare genetic diseases.

Dor Yeshorim will guide these families to ensure that they understand the medical processes, and develops customized, familial-based screening methods to prevent each family’s specific genetic disease from occurring again. They do this by conducting costly and advanced research to identify the family’s specific genetic mutation. They then work with research teams and lab specialists to develop a method to prevent this genetic disease from occurring and affecting the family again.

In doing all this, Dor Yeshorim has become the ambassador of the health of Klal Yisroel’s future generations and preventing so much anguish from afflicting our families. Dor Yeshorim encourages all who have not yet participated in its program, to take advantage of the genetic screenings in their communities, so they can have the peace of mind walking down to the chuppah, knowing they have done their hishtadlus to produce healthy future generations.

Dor Yeshorim is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of Jewish genetic diseases, conducting screenings at locations all over the world, spearheading groundbreaking genetic research and assisting families that have children that are affected with rare genetic diseases. For more information about Dor Yeshorim’s programs, please contact them at: (718) 384-6060, email [email protected] or visit their website at www.doryeshorim.org.

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