The bechor-firstborn tag has no wiki summary.
20
votes
3answers
325 views
Must a jew-by-choice who is a firstborn observe the fast of the firstborn
I'm interested in the question of whether a ger who is firstborn (of both parents, say, to keep things simple) must follow the rules for Ta'anit B'khorot. There are some remarks on the wikipedia page, ...
9
votes
2answers
280 views
What happened to the bechorim?
In the begining of sefer bamidbar, the males between 20 and 60 are counted and it says that there are over 600,000 of them. Theoretically each, or most, of these people should have had a first-born ...
8
votes
1answer
79 views
Does the Levi who washes the hands of the Kohanim have to be over bar mitzvah?
The Leviim wash the hands of the Kohanim when they go up to bless the people. If a Levi is not available a first born (to the mother) can wash (according to the Askenazi custom) instead, Orach Chaim ...
7
votes
1answer
108 views
First-born animals today
From what I understand, the laws of "bechor behemah tehorah" (kosher first-born animal) are still in effect today, both in Israel and outside. To avoid problems with this, we sell a share of the ...
6
votes
5answers
678 views
Oops, I just missed the siyum for Fast of the Firstborn
I am a firstborn. Suppose I wake up late on Erev Pesach and walk into shul right after they finish the siyum. Can I still partake in the post-siyum meal, or am I too late? More precisely, what are ...
6
votes
2answers
130 views
Why isn't Ta'anit Bechorot pushed back to Thursday when Pesach falls out on Shabbas?
When the first Seder falls on Motzei Shabbas, Ta'anit Bechorot is pushed back to Thursday. Why does it stay on Friday when Pesach falls out on Shabbas?
6
votes
2answers
124 views
Are males with older sisters “firstborn” for the purposes of the Fast of the Firstborn?
Assuming you follow the tradition that only first-born males are obligated to fast the day before Passover, do the males who have an older sister count as first-born or not?
Wikipedia doesn't seem to ...
5
votes
2answers
134 views
Double portion for firstborn
I need to designate beneficiaries for a life insurance plan. I've designated my wife as the primary beneficiary and my children as contingent beneficiaries. My son is a firstborn and he has two ...
5
votes
2answers
108 views
Commentaries not noting clear issues in the Torah
Stemming from this question about the seeming discrepancy between the number of people and the number of first-borns as counted in the beginning of Numbers:
I noticed this problem in my first reading ...
5
votes
1answer
102 views
Taanis Bechoros for a first born from a C-section
Does someone who was a first born, but was born from a C-section have to fast on Ta'anis Bechoros?
The only source I know which addresses this is the Kaf HaChaim on Shulchan Aruch (470:3) who says ...
5
votes
1answer
80 views
Source for bechorot losing/reclaiming priesthood
At a parshat hashavua shiur that I regularly attend, the rabbi has stated on multiple occasions that the bechorot (firstborn sons of Israel) were supposed to serve the purpose that the Leviim and ...
3
votes
1answer
39 views
Is there a custom that the person who makes the siyum on the fast of the first-born should be a bechor?
I have notcied that at my shul, whoever gives the siyum on the fast of the first-born each year before Pesach is always a first-born himself. Is this a generally practiced custom? I cannot imagine a ...
2
votes
2answers
68 views
Does a minyan use fast-day liturgy for the fast of the firstborn if some will override the fast?
This answer refers to the practice of over-riding the fast of the first-born, which is my experience too. My question is: should the shaliach tzibbur ever do the fast-day liturgy? If the community ...
1
vote
2answers
93 views
Fasting for a child bechor before Passover
I've heard that some men fast on erev Pesach for their firstborn son until that son old enough to fast for himself. Is that halakha? Where does this come from?
