Jewish Genetic Disease Screening

Join Jconnect and get screened! There is a group of severe and often fatal Jewish genetic diseases for which Ashkenazi, Persian, and Sephardic Jews can be screened, and this screening is open to anyone ages 18-50 having children now or in the future.

1 in 4 Ashkenazi Jews is a carrier for at least 1 in 38 of the diseases that we are currently screening for and 1 in 3 Sephardic/Persian Jews is a carrier for at least 1 in 16 of the diseases we are screening for. Getting screened is a simple blood test, along with genetic counseling. It is still possible to have healthy children of your own even in you and your partner are both carriers for the same disease.

At this screening at Hillel UW, the screening is designed to be accessible and affordable. We are using a new company this year, The Open Medicine Institute and they are screening for double the amount of diseases we screened for last year. For those with valid commercial insurance, the cost to patient is only $50. If you do not have health insurance, or if you have a Health Savings Plan, please email srishtia@openmedicineinstitute.org to discuss your options to ensure that it is still accessible.

Space is limited; please reserve your spot by pre-registering here.

This carrier screening is for you if you are: single • married • partnered • between 18 and 50 • in an interfaith relationship • gay or straight • already have children but are planning to expand your family • considering the use of donor egg/sperm • Ashkenazi • Persian • Sephardic • have even one Jewish grandparent.

Thank you to our community partners:

Hillel at the University of Washington, Congregation Beth Shalom, PAVE, Temple Beth Am, Kavana, Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue, The Tribe, The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Temple de Hirsch Sinai, Sephardic Bikur Holim, Congregation Shevet Achim, Moishe House, Third Space, Herzl Ner Tamid, Jewish Family Services, Congregation Beth Am, Stroum Jewish Community Center.

To reserve your screening appointment please RSVP HERE.

If you have non-health related questions please reach out to Brooke Adams, the Director of Jconnect, at Brooke@hilleluw.org.