Selected genetic disorders affecting Ashkenazi Jewish families.

Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern European ancestry have a disproportionately high prevalence of several autosomal recessive genetic disorders. This article describes these 9 disorders and their genetic inheritance patterns: Bloom syndrome; Canavan disease; cystic fibrosis; familial dysautonomia; Fanconi anemia; Gaucher disease; Mucolipidosis IV; Niemann-Pick disease; and Tay-Sachs disease. Genetic testing, counseling, and family planning options for the at-risk population are described.

Bereaved Orthodox Jewish families and their community: a cross-cultural perspective.

This article examines the laws and customs of bereavement in Orthodox Jewish families and their community. It considers definitions of bereavement, the need for health care team members' cross-cultural understanding of bereavement, the community's role, and the role of the community health nurse and health care team with this particular group.