Book Review: The Birth of Surrogacy in Israel

Instead of analyzing Israel’s Surrogate Motherhood Agreements Act from a purely legal or theoretical perspective, D. Kelly Weisberg weaves individuals, events, and other factors into a fascinating story about the Israeli legislative process. A case in point: Weisberg begins by exploring the private lives of Rachel and Benjamin, the biological parents of twin babies carried by Sarah, the first surrogate moth to carry a baby under Israel’s surrogacy law. Weisberg also explores the story of Naomi and Dan, the biological parents of a baby boy carried by Hanna, the second surrogate mother to carry a baby under the legislation. Readers learn first-hand about the couples’ discovery of their infertility, as well as their unsuccessful fertility treatments, attempts to find a surrogate mother, applications for government approval of their proposed surrogacy arrangements, and relationships with their surrogates