18
votes
How did Jacob manage to have 12 children in 7 years?
The Rashbam to Bereishis 43:33 writes that not only were the 6 sons of Leah born in 7 years, but also all of the other sons of Yaakov (with the obvious exception of Binyamin, who is explicitly ...
- 57.4k
18
votes
Can a rabbi conduct a marriage if the bride is already pregnant from the groom?
Short answer -- it's allowed.
You'll find a discussion elsewhere on this site about if someone impregnated a woman, do we recommend that he marry her. Which implies that the rabbi can certainly do ...
- 127k
15
votes
Accepted
Angel in the womb for women?
In מריח ניחוח (Issue 10, Nitzavim - Vayeilech), R' Gamliel HaKohen Rabinowitz writes (as quoted in Daf al HaDaf to Nida 30b):
הסתפקתי פעם, אם גם לנקבה מלמדין התורה, או רק לזכר, ופשטתי זאת מדברי ה"...
- 16.3k
14
votes
Is a Jew permitted to have an abortion?
Summary - Abortion is generally prohibited, but is permitted in certain cases. All opinions agree that one is permitted - perhaps even obligated - to abort if the mother's life is in direct danger ...
- 10.2k
14
votes
Accepted
When is a convert's Hebrew birthday?
Dinonline answers,
Although a Ger is considered to be “born anew” when becoming Jewish,
this is a halachic concept that relates to family relationship and the
like, and it is not a “biological ...
- 12.5k
11
votes
Accepted
Does a pregnant or nursing woman fast on a postponed Tish'ah B'Av?
The Tosefta (Taanit 2:12) cited in part in the Bavli (Pesachim 54b) says that pregnant and nursing women must fast on Tisha Bav (in contrast to other minor fast days). No distinction is made for a ...
- 95.3k
10
votes
What is the Orthodox Jewish position regarding a criminal ban on abortion?
Although Judaism prohibits abortion, including for non-Jews it doesn't necessarily prohibit all abortion. Certainly in the context of saving the life of the mother, abortion isn't only permitted, it ...
- 31.3k
10
votes
Angel in the womb for women?
R. Chaim Kanievsy is quoted as being asked this question, and pointing out that women also have a philtrum, as per this question (though it seems like he uses this as a proof that the philtrum is not ...
- 21.4k
10
votes
Was Dan born out of wedlock?
You're possibly referring to the Maharsha to Shabbos 55b.
To explain how Reuven didn't sin with Bilhah, he explains based on the gemarra in Yevamos that Avaraham's children couldn't marry a shifchah. ...
- 18.4k
9
votes
What is the source for the tradition that the philtrum is formed by an angel before birth?
This blog post mentions that it appears in some collections of Jewish legends and the like, but not in any traditional Jewish sources.
R. Chaim Kanievsy (in this Kuntres on Chinuch) was asked whether ...
- 21.4k
9
votes
Can a Jewish man be a sperm donor?
No, a Jewish man cannot be a sperm donor.
Based on tshuvos from Reb Moshe (Igrot Moshe, Even Ha'Ezer 1:71 & 4:32.5) we can say
Niuff byad is an issur which only married couples who undergo IVF ...
- 32.3k
9
votes
What stone prevents miscarriage?
R' Chaim Bochner, another Polish rabbi who was a contemporary of the Taz, uses the term שטערי"ן שו"ס to refer to shooting stars (Or Chadash, ברכות על חוש הראות , s'if #2):
זיקים והוא כוכב ...
- 16.3k
8
votes
Accepted
Gad, Asher, and Dinah: absolutely, totally, and in all other ways inconceivable?
Rashi (Bereshis 30, pasuk 10) answers on Zilpah that she was very young and the pregnancy was not visible, therefore the verse that she got pregnant was not cited.
Regarding Dinah, it could be like ...
- 1,474
8
votes
Accepted
Is a woman technically a niddah after childbirth?
Nowadays a woman becomes a Niddah during childbirth, as we pasken (or: have taken upon as a Halacha) that most vaginal discharges cause Niddah.
Some very specific colors are except, but it needs ...
- 42k
8
votes
Accepted
Tehilim 51, "in sin did his mother conceive him", What does that mean?
Rav Sa'adya Gaon explains in his commentary to Psalms (51:7) that David was not making a statement about the state of Man. Rather, he was speaking personally; that he was so ashamed, that he felt as ...
- 34.8k
8
votes
Accepted
Conception/Delivery Same Time
The source is probably the Talmud (Shabbos 30b):
כי הא דיתיב רבן גמליאל וקא דריש עתידה אשה שתלד בכל יום שנאמר (ירמיהו לא, ח) הרה ויולדת יחדיו
Rabban Gamliel was sitting and he interpreted a ...
- 6,375
8
votes
Accepted
May a pregnant woman eat non kosher food to satiate her craving?
Yoma 82a
ת"ר עוברה שהריחה בשר קודש או בשר חזיר תוחבין לה כוש ברוטב ומניחין לה על פיה אם נתיישבה דעתה מוטב ואם לאו מאכילין אותה רוטב עצמה ואם נתיישבה דעתה מוטב ואם לאו מאכילין אותה שומן עצמו שאין לך ...
- 22.2k
7
votes
Accepted
Medical treatment for pregnant woman that jeopardises pregnancy
In Judaism (as codified in the earliest of sources - the Mishna Ohalos (7:6) (HT Double AA for the English link)) the mother's life comes first, no matter how late in the pregnancy. Only once the baby ...
- 31.3k
7
votes
Shehechiyanu for baby girl during the 3 weeks / 9 days
Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 551:17 says:
טוב ליזהר מלומר שהחיינו בין המצרים על פרי או על מלבוש אבל על פדיון הבן אומר ולא יחמיץ המצוה
It is good to avoid saying Shehechianu in the three weeks on a ...
- 31.3k
7
votes
Is a mother who has just given birth allowed to travel within a month or so of birth?
From the perspective of Jewish law, she can travel as long as her doctor is okay with it.
Leviticus was saying not to enter the Temple, because she's ritually impure. That status of ritual impurity ...
- 127k
7
votes
Was Dan born out of wedlock?
You are probably thinking of the son of an Egyptian man and an Israelite woman, who cursed God's name (Leviticus 24:10). His mother was Shlomit the daughter of Divri from the tribe of Dan (24:11). ...
- 23.8k
7
votes
What stone prevents miscarriage?
Rashi on the original braitta in Shabbat 66b appears to identify it with the Old French קוטאנ"א, קונטנ''ה or קונטיינ"א - "contiene", related to the English "contain"; ...
- 17.2k
6
votes
Accepted
May a lady take a pregnancy test on Shabbos?
Rabbi Abadi says it is permitted; here:
Date: 9/23/2004 7:27:00 PM
Message: Am I allowed to take a non-digital pregnancy test on shabbos?
Reply: Yes CYA
- 137k
6
votes
Accepted
Halachot of IVF
Nishmat Avraham by Rabbi Dr Avraham Avraham is a classic and is available in Hebrew and English (Artscroll).
He discusses IVF quite a few times. In Vol 3, p15 he begins by quoting R' Waldenberg (...
- 6,097
6
votes
Accepted
Blessings on Birthdays
R. Elazar of Kozhnitz is cited as finding an allusion to the idea that one receives power of blessing (requesting) on their birthday in the verse (Ps. 2:7-8):
אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה אֶֽ֫ל חֹ֥ק יְײ אָמַ֘ר אֵלַ֥י ...
- 11.8k
6
votes
Accepted
Marital relations if pregnancy is potentially life-threatening?
There is 100%, crystal-clear, absolute precedent in Jewish law for birth control if pregnancy would endanger the mother.
Talmud, Ketubot 39a:
תני רב ביבי קמיה דרב נחמן שלש נשים משמשות במוך אלו הן ...
- 127k
6
votes
Accepted
Is a virgin birth possible according to rabbinic judaism? If the mother was betrothed, is the child a mamzer?
Virgin birth in Rabbinic literature:
The Talmud already discusses it. E.g. in Chagiga 14b and 15a it discusses a virgin birth.
Specifically, is "the virgin" allowed to marry a Cohen Gadol - the high ...
- 42k
6
votes
Was Dan born out of wedlock?
From the simple reading of the Torah it seems that it was in wedlock
Beraishis 30:3-6 or here
She said, “Here is my maid Bilhah. Consort with her, that she may bear on my knees and that through ...
- 7,144
6
votes
Accepted
Personality traits of being born on certain weekdays
Gemorah Shabbos 156a
[I copied Sefaria's version see complete Gemorah here]
כתיב אפינקסיה דרבי יהושע בן לוי האי מאן דבחד בשבא יהי גבר ולא חדא ביה
After citing relevant halakhot written in the ...
- 6,028
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