Jewish Organizations to Gather for Fertility Support Summit

11 Jewish organizations dedicated to helping couples struggling to build a family will be hosting a 90-minute virtual summit on Monday evening. A featured speaker: Arizona Shlucha Chani Levertov, founder of "Fruitful." Full Story

February 21, 2021 – 9 Adar 5781

By COLlive reporter

The first annual Jewish Fertility Summit is set to take place on Monday, February 22, 2021, from 8:00 to 9:30 PM EST for those struggling to build a family and for Jewish professionals and lay leaders to gain a better understanding of those experiencing infertility and/or pregnancy loss, and how to better support them.

“It Shouldn’t Have to be this Hard; Real Questions, Real Answers,” a 90-minute virtual program, is being organized by “I Was Supposed To Have A Baby” and Svivah and is bringing together 11 Jewish organizations such as A Time, Bonei Olam, Hasidah, Jewish Fertility Foundation and more.

“We believe that this summit will inherently be safeguarding the future of the Jewish community by offering comfort and support during some of the loneliest times in people’s lives,” says Aimee Baron MD, Founder and Executive Director of I Was Supposed To Have A Baby (IWSTHAB).

IWSTHAB is a social media platform that supports Jewish individuals and families struggling to have a baby. It provides a supportive space for those dealing with infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, and those exploring surrogacy and adoption.

“The inability to have a child, regardless of the medical diagnosis, is a heartbreaking and devastating reality for many. From a communal angle, these topics are difficult to discuss in public, and clergy and lay leaders often struggle to address these topics. This avoidance inevitably disenfranchises many, often causing those affected to disengage from Jewish life as a whole. This can affect family units as well as singles who already feel isolated.”

Dr. Baron hopes the first annual summit will change that and invites anyone struggling to join, giving them the space within this program to vent, share, read, interact with, and absorb support, in order to help them feel less alone.

One of the featured presenters is Chabad Shlucha Chani Levertov who founded the Fruitful organization in Pheonix, Arizona, as a peer support resource for friends and community members. She has grown the organization together with a dedicated team to service over 90 individuals navigating their infertility journey.

Levertov, a mother of 3 children, is also the co-director of Smile on Seniors of Arizona, along with her husband Rabbi Levi Levertov. Smile on Seniors is the foremost organization providing social, educational and pastoral services to the Jewish senior demographic in Arizona.

Dr. Baron invites the public to participate and get a better understanding, so they too can offer their shoulder, strength and wisdom as appropriate, to those who are struggling.