WIZO Johannesburg Ilanit Branch recently held a very informative medical morning at the HOD in Orchards. About 80 women arrived to listen to and learn from two eminent speakers and enjoy a delicious brunch.
Sharon Spiegel was the MC for the morning and she brought some humour to an otherwise serious forum.
Professor Trefor Jenkins addressed the audience first. He spoke about Jewish Genetics and particularly about research that has been done into whether Jews are genetically more intelligent.
Professor Jenkins has a vast knowledge of this subject and explained very clearly about certain genes prevalent in the Ashkenazi community that could prove to be a blessing or a curse to people, depending on whether they inherited the genes from one or both parents.
But Prof Jenkins did not discount the role of the Jewish mother in ensuring high levels of academic achievement in their children!
The second speaker, Professor Franco Guidozzi, discussed the different stages in life that a woman goes through. He described the various physical and emotional symptoms of each stage and some of the methods available to counter these. He stressed the need for understanding and support and, in more severe cases, he recommended that medication, be it the Pill or Hormone Replacement Therapy, may be necessary.
Many questions were raised by the audience for the speakers. So much so that lunch may have been a little late in some households that day!
WIZO Aviv Ilanit Branch members - Barbara Solomon, Robyn Blumenthal, Margo Snoyman, Beulah Spark, Andrea Wainer and Nadine Lemmer.JPG
