A Tribute to Rae Adler A”H

The Trustees and I were blessed to work with an extraordinary partner for over eighteen years. If one of us had an idea, we discussed it, challenged it, refined it, and then made it happen. Many of those ideas succeeded, and thanks to Rae’s vision, rigour, and the strong foundations she built, Chana grew and developed in ways of which she was deeply proud.

Rae’s mission was to educate and empower people to access the best medical care possible. She was ahead of her time, understanding that people needed a basic knowledge of how their bodies function, the confidence to recognise when something was wrong, and the courage to speak openly about it. She also championed awareness of the man’s role in fertility, working tirelessly to bring this conversation into the wider public sphere.

We created access. Together, we built relationships with NHS and private clinics and connected with parallel organisations to learn and collaborate. Mr Kerenkraut introduced us to his network of medical experts, and we forged enduring partnerships. We created the role of Scientific Advisor, and Dr Veronique Berman, together with Rae, developed our core medical network into the panel that continues to guide and advise Chana clients today.

We then focused on sharing this knowledge within the Jewish community through educational events, printed resources, and Chana magazine, produced and edited by our founding Chair of Trustees, Shelley Groszman. Under Rae’s guidance, we also produced the first medical directory of its kind—an A–Z of GPs, gynaecologists, endocrinologists, fertility specialists, and urologists. Rae’s attention to detail was exemplary; everything that left Chana’s offices was accurate, thorough, and thoughtfully considered.

Chana’s first public event took place in the winter of 1990 at Eitz Chaim Yeshiva in Golders Green. Thirty women, and a few men, listened to a nurse manager from a Nottingham fertility clinic explain the basics of fertility treatment. From there, the scope and scale of our events steadily expanded, culminating in our largest gathering to date—the 2011 Medical Conference. Over 300 people attended, including Rabbis, medical professionals, kallah teachers, madrichim, and members of the public. The day featured lectures and panel discussions on Halacha, medicine, and emotional wellbeing, reflecting Chana’s philosophy of caring for the whole person.

On several occasions, Chana brought medical, Rabbinic, and therapeutic specialists from Israel, America and Europe to speak to a wide range of audiences—our therapeutic team, the general public, external therapists, Rabbonim, Rebbetzens, kallah teachers, and madrichim—enhancing communal understanding of the needs of couples facing fertility challenges.

Under Rae’s leadership, and working closely with the trustees and team, Chana provided educational programmes across the spectrum of Anglo Jewry, from the United Synagogue, Adass, and Federation communities, spanning Stamford Hill to Richmond and Elstree. Even heavy snow never deterred Rae from delivering a programme anywhere in Greater London.

In Stamford Hill, Rebbetzens and kallah teachers met quarterly for a bespoke course developed by Chana, covering gynaecology, the emotional impact of fertility struggles, and the effects of mental health challenges on couples.

Rae was also instrumental in developing Halachic pathways and Rabbinic support. We consulted extensively with leading Rabbis, particularly Dayan Ehrentreu זצ״ל and Rabbi Zimmerman שליט״א, sometimes meeting monthly to clarify organisational protocols or complex individual cases. We were privileged to take Dayan Ehrentreu, Mr Kerenkraut, and other Rabbonim to visit a fertility clinic and laboratory, enabling meaningful dialogue between Rabbinic authorities and clinicians.

In parallel, we expanded the Trustee body, strengthened governance, and grew both the therapeutic and business teams.

At the heart of everything was Rae’s unwavering focus on the clients. Whether through supervision, counselling, group work, buddy systems, lectures, webinars, or her relationships with professionals and Rabbonim, she never sought recognition. She preferred to support from behind the scenes—strategising, advising, and preparing for what came next—yet when leadership was needed, she stepped forward with wisdom, clarity, and humility.

Rae formally left Chana in 2017 to make Aliyah, but even eight years later she remained passionately connected, continuing to share her vision, ideas, and encouragement.

The entire Chana team will deeply miss her care, her passion, and her wise, compassionate counsel. Rae played a pivotal role in bringing the first several hundred Chana babies into the world.

May all her tireless efforts on behalf of Chana couples be an enduring zechus for her, and may she continue to advocate for Jewish children as she did throughout her life.

יהי זכרה ברוך