Question: What is the Jewish view on designer babies?

Answer: I don’t know of any source in Jewish law that speaks about this case exactly, but it would seem to run counter to Judaism. Jewish law forbids tattoos and messing with ones body and also puts a stress on being happy with the situation and attributes that G-d gives us at birth and throughout life. It would seem that designer babies fly in the face of this.

If a person really believes that G-d gives us what is best, then there is no need to make such ‘improvements.’ Certainly, if a child will be ill, then the Torah obligates us to improve the child’s situation. But a designer baby isn’t previously ill.

Yours,
Rabbi Meir Goldberg