Option 18 is the organ donor education initiative of Ematai. In Jewish culture, the number 18 symbolizes life (in Hebrew, חי, chai). The numbers 1 and 8 also symbolize the important message that 1 person can save up to eight lives with the gift of posthumous organ donation.

The Option 18 initiative includes:

• Support for Families
• Providing support for Jewish families making real-time decisions regarding posthumous organ donation and helping them cope with their loss.
• Like all of Ematai’s programming, material which caters to the entire Jewish community.
• Creating educational material and programming catered toward raising awareness about organ donation within the Jewish community.
• Working with hospitals, healthcare providers, and organ procurement organizations (OPOs) to understand the sensitivities of organ donation within the Jewish community.

Ematai has created an OPO kit which includes:

• Guide for Healthcare Professionals
• FAQ pamphlet for families
• A unique prayer to say before a loved ones organs are donated
• Educational materials for OPO staff about the different religious and cultural denominations within Judaism and their various approaches to organ donation.
• Zoom meetings for OPO to learn more about the Option 18 kit and provide an in-service training session.

To receive educational material regarding Judaism and organ donation, support for local programming, or to schedule an in-person or online lecture, please contact option18@ematai.org.