Genetic Diseases in the Jewish Community

One in five Ashkenazi Jews are carriers of at least one of 16 genetic diseases that can be fatal in early childhood and cause mental and physical defects later in life. Many Jewish couples planning to have families are unaware of this potential threat. Vice President of the New York Board of Rabbis, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Randy Glaser, Co-Chair of the Jewish Genetic Disease Consortium, inform New York Nightly News viewers about how to get screened for these diseases.