But it is an issue that is far more common than most people think. According to the NHS, approximately one in seven couples may have difficulty conceiving. “Everyone knows infertility exists, but most don’t realise just how many people are affected by it,” Saul said. “If you’re in a shul with a minyan, or if you’re in a people carrier full of adults, it’s more than likely there’ll be someone there who has struggled with infertility.”
Saul has in recent years travelled to many different Jewish communities to raise awareness and was asked to contribute to the groundbreaking guidance booklet, Guide on Baby Loss, Infertility and Childlessness, released in 2023 by the Chief Rabbi. He and Shoshi were even featured in an episode of the BBC documentary series Love, Faith and Me about their infertility journey within a religious Jewish community.
The couple approached charity Bonei Olam in September 2022 on the advice of friends following “one of the worst weeks” in their fertility journey.
They filled out Bonei Olam’s online referral form at 2am and later that day found themselves sitting with a case worker who said “the most important words we needed to hear: ‘We will never give up on you,’” Saul recalled.
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Saul and Shoshi Muzlish[Missing Credit]
Bonei Olam has since supported the couple “through every single step” of their journey, including with fertility investigations and treatments, advice on nutrition, physio, mental health and funding medication costs.
“They take care of everything that could be a factor in affecting your fertility journey, and through it all, they’ll say they will never give up. It is very comforting to know they are so invested. It’s a massive weight off our shoulders,” Saul said.
“Now I’m raising money for Bonei Olam because it has become such an important and inspiring force in our lives, and if they won’t give up on us, then I won’t give up on them.”
Throughout their fertility journey, the couple have turned to walking to strengthen their physical and mental health, having first started on the first day of the Covid-19 lockdown.
“After many difficult moments, the first thing we have done is to go out for a walk,” he said. “When we had a miscarriage in January, we went for a walk, and when we were told that an embryo transfer had failed, we went straight on a 20-mile walk.”
Saul Muzlish and his wife, Shoshi[Missing Credit]
On May 21, Saul will embark on his longest trek yet in order to raise money for Bonei Olam, and, in the process, raise awareness and aim to combat the stigma surrounding infertility.
Setting out from Birmingham, where Shoshi is from, he will walk along the Grand Union Canal, covering 20 miles a day over five days, finishing beside a lock in Watford, near to where the couple now live in Borehamwood.
In less than a month, Saul has raised more than £11,300 of his £15,000 target. “It’s unbelievable,” he said. “I don’t recognise half the names of people donating. It’s motivating me to get going and continue to shine a light on this cause. Shoshi, too, is looking forward to me getting started so I finally stop going on about it.”
Saul wanted to give a special vote of thanks to Brooke Mullings, a “social media wizz” who kindly agreed to run his online and social media campaign for the walk. “Without her, there’s no way we would have raised this much,” he said. He also wished to give his friend Paul Shenkin a shoutout, from Tiger Ant Productions, who helped Saul with his promotional video.
Shoshi said: “The Jewish community is so family-orientated, and when you don’t get that picture-perfect family, you can feel like you don’t belong in a way.
“That my husband is combining what we love to do with a charity that is so important to us is incredible. As I’ve told our Bonei Olam case worker a few times, I can’t imagine where we would be without their support.”
To support Saul, click here or go to: justgiving.com/page/sauls-walking-home
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Shoshi and Saul Muzlish[Missing Credit]