Zir Chemed brings together a team of nine full-time professionals, all experts in their field, to meet the complex medical, religious and emotional needs of its clients. Heading the Zir Chemed team is Dr. Hava Yael Schreiber, Medical Director of the center, and Dr. Baruch Brooks, its Scientific Director.

Zir Chemed’s work is supported by the tireless efforts of dozens of volunteers in Israel, the United States, Canada and Europe. Volunteers organize special events, direct fundraising campaigns, and arrange informational parlor meetings in Israel and abroad.

Born in London, Dr. Brooks received his PhD in brain biochemistry from the London Institute of Psychiatry in 1973, specializing in the biochemical basis of affective disorders. Frustrated by a lack of progress in his field, he received a lectureship at the Westminster Medical School in London in biochemical pharmacology, studying diuretic agents and working closely with the pharmaceutical industry to develop new drugs.

In 1983, Dr. Brooks moved with his family to Israel. In 1990, Dr. Brooks was appointed Embryologist and Religious Supervisor of the newly created IVF Unit at Sha’arei Zedek hospital in Jerusalem, a position he holds until today, in conjunction with his duties as Scientific Director of Zir Chemed, which he assumed in 1995.

Dr. Brooks is an invaluable scientific resource for the Jewish community and travels extensively to provide personal counseling and diagnosis to couples in Israel, Europe and the United States.

Dr. Brooks is married to Roizel. They have eleven children and twenty three grandchildren to date.

Born and educated in Paris, Dr. Schreiber completed her medical degree and gynecology and obstetrics residency at Internat des Hopitaux de Paris, France. She went on to earn a PhD in Gynecologic Oncology at the Albert Einstein Medical College (New York) in 1992, after which she immigrated to Israel and settled in Jerusalem.

Dr. Schreiber worked for several years at the Israeli Fertility Center, where she later served as Director of the Jerusalem branch. She also practiced at two of Jerusalem’s hospitals while developing a thriving private practice. One of the country’s leading fertility experts, Dr. Schreiber is especially known for her sensitivity – and success rate – in treating religious couples.

In 1997, Dr. Schreiber joined Zir Chemed as Medical Director, a position she holds until today. She quickly helped Zir Chemed develop its expertise in several areas, including infertility diagnosis and treatment within a halachic framework; supervision and delivery of high-risk pregnancies, and diagnosis and treatment of cervical lesions.

Beyond her outstanding professional accomplishments, Dr. Schreiber is also – and most importantly – a personal asset to Zir Chemed and its clients. She cares genuinely for each couple, spending hours during the diagnostic phase and personally overseeing every treatment.

Dr. Schreiber is married to Allan. They have two children.