Georgiana Diana Apostica

The main objective of this project is to explore the ethical implications of procreation within the Jewish tradition, with a particular focus on how this issue is conceptualized and addressed in contemporary halakhic rulings concerning the use of reproductive biotechnologies. To this end, the analysis will focus on studies related to Jewish medical ethics and halakhic literature on assisted reproduction, which reinterpret fundamental Jewish values such as the mitzvah of procreation, shalom bayit, and pikuach nefesh. Additionally, it will extend to an examination of bioethical concepts such as autonomy, identity, relationship, and procreative responsibility. In this context, the study will highlight how birth and procreation are not merely biological or legal/theological events but rather fundamental components of a complex network of beliefs, narratives, and obligations that shape both individual and communal ethical identity within the Jewish tradition. The integration of technological advancements in the procreative process requires not only an update of halakhic interpretative tools but also the development of new ethical frameworks that can bridge tradition with emerging moral sensibilities within Orthodox Judaism. This study aims to outline a dynamic Jewish ethics of procreation, one that engages with biotechnological innovations while maintaining its normative and identity coherence.