Question:
Rabbi Shalom, I am a safardic yeshiva boy, and I reached the chapter of sheduchim, and I was doubtful whether I should conduct genetic tests of ‘dor yesharim’, because there are guys in the yeshiva who claim that these tests must be conducted today, and on the other hand some say that safardic boy and girls do not need it, because the genetic problems almost do not exist with them.
Answer:
It is correct to conduct genetic tests of ‘dor yesharim’ [also for sefardic people, after now identifying genetic diseases in sefardic people as well]. and by the test it is possible to identify carriers for a number of very serious and curative diseases, which are relatively high insecurities, and this is not a lack of ‘bitachon’, but rather a normal endeavor as much as the efforts that humans make, and that are right to do. In this way, many have ordered that efforts should be made. Also there is no problem of ‘tamim theya with hashem’ because that it is forbidden to investigate the future, since this test is not the investigation of the future, but rather the investigation of the present, whether the two partners are carriers of the genetic diseases being examined or not. This prohibition is also stated on the investigation of futures in mystical ways and not in the exploration of the future in the ways of nature, which is permitted.
However, there is no obligation to conduct genetic tests, and those who do not want to conduct this test are not obligated. And if there is a very good ‘shiduch’, and the other side does not wish to conduct the genetic test, you should go out with her.
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