Questions tagged [baby-infant]
The baby-infant tag has no usage guidance.
72
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How do you pray for a sick baby who has not yet been named?
Is it possible to say a Mi SheBerach for a sick baby who has not yet been named? If so, how is it done?
And if one cannot say a Mi SheBerach, is there another prayer that can be said?
What if there ...
17
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7
answers
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Understanding the reasoning of the woman who agreed with King Solomon to "cut the baby in half"
There's a famous story in I Kings 3:16-28 about Shlomo Hamelech.
Two women who had just given birth around the same time appeared before him; one baby had died and one was alive and the women were ...
13
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3
answers
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Infant seeing reflection in mirror
I have heard that some people do not allow a child to see his or her reflection in a mirror before they can speak (or say their name, possibly). Is there any traditional source for this practice?
13
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3
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How would the 'split the baby in half' situation be resolved according to halacha?
In 1 Kings 3:16-27 there is a story of two prostitutes who appear before King Shlomo, each having a newborn baby. One of the babies died and there was a dispute as to which one. There were no ...
12
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1
answer
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Can a mother taste her own breastmilk?
Can a mother drink/taste her own breastmilk?
I know theres an issur for a non-baby to drink directly from the breast; but, what about from a cup?
Further, if it is indeed assur (even from a cup), ...
12
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2
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Why is a bris performed after death?
Why does an infant baby boy who dies before he can be circumcised have a circumcision performed after death? If, as the article states it is to prepare the body for the next world why is this ritual ...
11
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2
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320
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Nursing in the bathroom
Per Food in bathroom it is forbidden to eat in the bathroom. Can a lady nurse in the bathroom or is it considered like eating in the bathroom? (sources)
9
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2
answers
275
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Why can a baby get Tzaraas?
Reference in Gemora Shabbos 133a Daf Yomi recently to tzaraas (skin disease see Leviticus 13) on the foreskin regarding mila (circumcission). This implies babies can have tzaraas.
If tzaraas is not ...
8
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1
answer
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Gift of a Teddy Bear to New Born Baby
Can I give a new born jewish baby a furry Teddy Bear?
I was told that a handmade teddy bear especially made as a gift and given to a new born baby of a religious family was returned? A doll would be ...
8
votes
0
answers
141
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Those who observe "Ben Zachar" at night and "Shalom Zachar" by day
There's a pretty common custom to observe what's commonly called a "Shalom Zachar" on the Friday night after a baby boy is born. People go to where the baby's father is, eat snacks, sing and share ...
7
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5
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Chickpeas (Arbes) at a Shalom Zachor
Why do we serve Arbes - chickpeas at a Shalom Zachor?
7
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3
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511
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"Praiseworthy is he who will clutch and dash your infants against the rock"?
I do not understand the last lines of psalm 137 ("By the rivers of Babylon"/"Al naharos bovel," the psalm recited before Birkat Ha-Mazon on weekdays. [It includes the famous lines &...
7
votes
1
answer
560
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How is the sex of a baby born with unclear genitalia determined?
A baby may be born with a penis but no testicle. The hospital would do genetic tests to determine whether the baby was genetically female or male. In the case of a genetic female born with a penis the ...
7
votes
1
answer
324
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Calling female baby by name before official naming
Is there any objection, halachic or otherwise, to calling a baby girl by the name the parents plan on giving it before the mi sheberach prayer is recited at the torah reading following the birth? What ...
6
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2
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What is the source for: One shouldn't name a baby using names from before Abraham
I've heard or I've been taught one shouldn't name a baby (or take a name, in the case of a ger) from names in the Torah before Abraham, namely Adam, Noah etc.
This makes sense to me, as Abraham is the ...
6
votes
2
answers
181
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Moshe and filicide
In Exodus 2:3, baby Moses's mother, unable to further hide him from the authorities, puts him in a box in or near the river. An abandoned baby will soon die. How could / why did she trade in the ...
6
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1
answer
292
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What things are done differently for an adult circumcision?
I have never attended an adult circumcision, and I don't know anyone, personally, who was circumcised as an adult. I'm curious if there are any notable differences between an adult and child ...
6
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1
answer
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Bris for non-Jewish boy whose parents are converting
If in the process of conversion, a couple has a baby boy, what is done regarding the bris? They have not yet fully converted, but are in the process, with a Rabbi and regularly attending synagogue ...
6
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2
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Is a baby born on Shabbos Muktza as Nolad?
Is a baby born on Shabbos Muktza as Nolad until the end of Shabbos?
I mean, he is quite literally Nolad - born on Shabbos. I understand that anything that the baby needs would would obviously be Mutar ...
5
votes
1
answer
1k
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Not sitting shiva when the baby passes away after 30 days
Recently, a 2-month-old baby passed away ל"ע, and the family indicated that there would be no shiva.
Under what circumstances is there no shiva for a baby that lives passed 30 days?
5
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2
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575
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Pampers tzovehah (dyeing) on shabbas
Pampers make diapers which have a wetness indicator. Initially it is a yellow stripe when dry; when wet it turns blue. I am wondering whether this would be considered tzoveha.
http://g-ecx.images-...
5
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1
answer
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What sort of "food" did the midwives provide for the children (Rashi on Shemos 1 (17))?
Rashi on Shemos 1 (17) comments on the expression “... but they enabled the boys to live” and says “They provided water and food for them.”
If these were new-borns what sort of food could they have ...
5
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1
answer
498
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Wishing someone Mazel Tov may turn out to be problematic
I am a member of a Chabad-Lubavitch shul with its wonderfully diverse community here in Southeast Asia though I am not a Chasid. I may have caused some discomfort to our much loved Rabbi & ...
5
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2
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232
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Potty in the living room?
It is generally assumed that one is not allowed to bring a sefer into a bathroom, at least while the bathroom's in use (see Shabbos 127b, Rambam Hilchos Sefer Torah 10:5, Shulchan Aruch YD 282:6, ...
5
votes
1
answer
157
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Is it discussed why a baby is born without teeth?
I was wondering if the idea of a baby being born without teeth, and more specifically the painful process of teething, has been discussed by the Torah or addressed by any Rabbis?
5
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1
answer
182
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Cholim she'yesh bahem sakanah
Are there rabbinical sources on what qualifies someone as a choleh she'yesh bo sakanah - a sick person whose life is in danger?
Is it strictly a medical decision? Are there circumstances in which ...
5
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0
answers
128
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A widow using her deceased husbands semen to conceive?
If a husband has some of his semen frozen/saved and then dies, what halachic and hashkafic issues have to be addressed when deciding if his widow is allowed to/can/should use that semen to become ...
4
votes
1
answer
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Did babies nurse in the wilderness?
We know that the Jews were sustained by the heavenly mun for forty years in the wilderness. They didn't eat anything else, as it provided their every needs. They didn't even produce any bodily waste.
...
4
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4
answers
650
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Naming a baby boy before a deferred bris
The typical practice when a baby boy is born is to refrain from calling him by any name until he is given a name at his bris. In cases where the bris is deferred (e.g. for health reasons) for an ...
4
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2
answers
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May a Jewish baby nurse from a non-Jewish woman?
Does halacha allow letting a Jewish baby nurse from a non-Jewish woman (assuming Jewish wet nurses are available)?
The Gemara says that Baby Moses refused to nurse from a non-Jewish woman, saying, "...
4
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2
answers
529
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Naming a child after two relatives
I once heard Rabbi Shmuel Niman, Mashgiach Ruchani of the Chafeitz Chaim Yeshiva, say that he had "recently learned" that it is improper to give a child parts of the names of two relatives. For ...
4
votes
1
answer
480
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Eliyahu HaNavi and bris
Someone once told me that when Eliyahu HaNavi comes to a baby's bris, everyone who is presently there is forgiven for their sins.
Does anyone know the source for this?
4
votes
2
answers
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Placing a unattached plastic over the stroller on Shabbos / Yom Tov
According to Rabbi Dovid Ostroff Shlita
The Rama in Hilchos Succah 626:3 says that one is permitted to open
and shut hinged flaps that are used for covering the Succah when
raining. The Chazon ...
4
votes
1
answer
240
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By what standards does Judaism hold infants accountable for sin?
In Samuel 15:3 Samuel relays God's instruction to Saul of obliterating the nation of Amalek. Included in this instruction is also the command to slay infants and sucklings.
Samuel 15:3
"Now, go, and ...
4
votes
1
answer
309
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Why isn't there a Shalom Zachor equivalent for newborn girls?
The Rama in Yoreh Deah 265:12 brings the custom for a Shalom Zachor:
עוד נהגו לעשות סעודה ומשתה בליל שבת לאחר שנולד זכר נכנסים אצל התינוק לטעום שם והוא ג"כ סעודת מצוה
It is customary to make a ...
4
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2
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Can two siamese twins be separated by killing one if that one would die anyway and the other would live
In two Simaese twins where the first will definitely die soon, whereas the second has a chance of life if the first stops being a 'drain' him. Like if there is only one heart. Can one kill the first ...
4
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1
answer
176
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Naming a baby after a living non-relative
As an Ashkenazi Jew, can I name my child after someone who is alive if they are not a relative or are you not supposed to name a child after the living, regardless of your relationship with them or ...
3
votes
2
answers
2k
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Segulah for having a boy
I have heard before that a segulah for having a boy is to have relations with one's wife twice in one night. I remember hearing this in the name of Chazal. Does anyone know the makor for it?
3
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2
answers
470
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Jewish prayer for our doctor after baby delivery?
We just had a baby and are scheduled to see our primary care physician very soon. We know he is religious and would appreciate a short prayer, and we were wondering if there are any Jewish prayers ...
3
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3
answers
722
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Mourning the death of an infant
If an infant only survives for one day Rachmana litzlan, do the parents have to sit shiva or say kaddish?
3
votes
1
answer
111
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Source of שלום זכר
What is the earliest source for the מנהג of making a שלום זכר?
Anything earlier than שולחן ערוך will make me happy to be honest...
3
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2
answers
616
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Should Jewish parents-to-be throw a baby shower?
Should Jewish parents-to-be throw a baby shower? Why or why not? What is the origin of the baby shower (amongst Jews specifically) if any? For clarification, I am referring to the party before the ...
3
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1
answer
203
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Halakhot of raising babies
I don't think I've ever encountered halakhot that pertain to interacting with newborns, but as any new parent knows, such interactions take up a great deal of one's time, during the day, at night, ...
3
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1
answer
239
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Innocent babies killed in flood
In Parasha Noach, why were presumably innocent babies killed in the Flood?
I would appreciate if someone could provide some elucidation.
3
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1
answer
84
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Sarah nursing idolaters' children
The Gemara (BM 87b) relates that at the time that Avraham made a feast for Yitzchak'a birth, the nations mocked him and Sarah, saying that they adopted him, or that he was Avimelech's son with Sarah. ...
3
votes
1
answer
611
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Converting a baby - When to do Circumcision
I know that one can convert an infant (and if he doesn't recant when he becomes of age, the conversion is retractively chal) but what about milah? For a Jewish child, milah before the 8th day isn't a ...
3
votes
1
answer
109
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Sha'atnez and small children
I was sent an email today alerting my community that Sha'atnez has been discovered in a line of baby pants. A quick internet search turned up other baby clothing that has been discovered to have Sha'...
3
votes
0
answers
72
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What name to use when praying for baby in need of healing before it is born?
Typically, when praying for someone in need of healing, we refer to them as "NAME ben/bat MOTHERS_NAME". For a baby before it is given a name, we can refer to them as "tinok ben/bat ...
3
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0
answers
96
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Ruach Hakodesh when Naming a Child for an Ancestor?
The Arizal says that parents having a certain level of ruach hakodesh when naming their child.
Sha’ar HaGilgulim (23:8) - ונמצא כי כאשר נולד האדם וקוראים לו אביו
ואמו שם אחד העולה בדעתם אינו באקראי ...
3
votes
0
answers
101
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Have infants ever been instructed to bless on mothers milk?
This biography of Rabbi Zalman Volozhin, brother of famed Rabbi Chaim, reports that at the age of one year old he was trained by his mother to recite a blessing before suckling her milk.
Is such an ...