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It seems there are some people who specifically don't want to know their baby's gender before birth. Is there any halachic basis to this, or is it just superstition?

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3 Answers

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I know of one posek who proved that this is perfectly fine, from the fact that many seforim cite traditional segulos to determine a fetus' gender. Obviously, then, there is nothing improper about knowing the gender beforehand. (One could argue that knowing with certainty is worse, but this seems like a distinction without a difference. And besides, even sonography is far from foolproof.)

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Would it be "improper" if you lived in China or India? – Daniel ben Noach May 30 '11 at 2:47
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@Daniel_ben_Noach - why should it make a difference where you are? – Dave May 31 '11 at 0:54
In Asia, if you got a sonogram, it would be assumed that you were intending to have an abortion if the baby is a girl. – Daniel ben Noach Jun 9 '11 at 12:20
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@Daniel - your concern is what the sonographer might think? – Dave Jun 10 '11 at 5:55
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It sounds like superstition. However, I know some don't want to know the baby's sex, so that they have a level of enjoyment after the long birthing process of finding out whether the baby is a boy or a girl. I am sure others might have other reasons. I don't know of any halachik basis.

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The Shailos Rav (by Rav Chaim Kanievsky), in 12:2, says one should not do it based off the Koheles Rabbah 11:5 and also can be seen in Medrash Rabbah Toldos 65:12 that says seven things are hidden from man and one of them is knowing the gender of a child in the womb .

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Do you have a source for saying R'CK said so? How do you know? – msh210♦ May 2 '12 at 5:08
Yes in his sefer Shailos Rav perek 12:2,his source is from Koheles rabbah. – sam May 2 '12 at 5:15
Thanks. I've added the citation per your comment: you could have done so yourself instead of replying to me in a comment. But I'm confused: in the answer you say his source is B'reshis Raba and in the comment you say it's Koheles Raba? – msh210♦ May 2 '12 at 5:18
He quotes koheles Rabba but it is quoted in a few places,i guess it might be easier to find in the source I gave.I am sorry about not adding it in I am looking for kohels rabba source and then will add it. – sam May 2 '12 at 5:24
Thanks so much! – msh210♦ May 2 '12 at 5:24

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