10 Towards Jewish Cultural Safety in Maternity Care

Speaker:- Laura Godfrey-Isaacs & Jessica Falk Perlman

Facilitator :- Ally Anderson

Abstract:- Cultural safety and anti-racist work in maternity care is ongoing. In 2024, the NHS Race and Health Observatory investigated health inequalities in Jewish communities for the first time. Their review looked at the impact of communications on cultural competency and antisemitism, which can create barriers to care and deepen health inequalities for this minority community. Shifrah UK, co-founded by the two presenters in 2025, informs on Jewish birth practices and raises awareness of Jewish Cultural safety. The presentation will be made by a midwife who also serves as Culture and Awareness Lead on the NHS Staff Network and Council member of the Jewish Medical Association (UK) and will provide a vital introduction to help conference attendees consider how they can provide culturally safe care for Jewish women, birthing people and families. In the presentation, we will explore complex and diverse Jewish identities from around the world and cover some key Jewish cultural birth practices such as male circumcision, attitudes to breastfeeding, pregnancy and baby loss traditions in terms of death and mourning rituals, festivals and fasting. We will introduce and sign-post to key resources and links.

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