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 ...
- 58.1k
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 ...
- 130k
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 ...
- 13.6k
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 ...
- 96.9k
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. ...
- 19.6k
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 ...
- 33.2k
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 ...
- 16.8k
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 ...
- 42.7k
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 ...
- 35.4k
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 ...
- 6,427
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 ...
- 22.6k
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 ...
- 130k
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 ...
- 31.8k
7
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 ...
- 11.9k
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). ...
- 24k
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"; ...
- 17.6k
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 ...
- 42.7k
6
votes
When does the soul enter the fetus?
This was a discussion between Antoninus and Rabi Yehuda HaNasi, found in Sanhedrin 91b.
The following is the quotation and translation from sefaria
וא"ל אנטונינוס לרבי נשמה מאימתי ניתנה באדם ...
- 33.2k
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 ...
- 7,466
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 ...
- 6,113
6
votes
Can a rabbi conduct a marriage if the bride is already pregnant from the groom?
Shemot 22:15 states:
וְכִֽי־יְפַתֶּ֣ה אִ֗ישׁ בְּתוּלָ֛ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־אֹרָ֖שָׂה וְשָׁכַ֣ב עִמָּ֑הּ מָהֹ֛ר יִמְהָרֶ֥נָּה לּ֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה
If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with ...
- 143
6
votes
Which parent names the first child?
Rav Ari Enkin in his Shulchan Ha'Ari page.133 writes that it is best to name the child together based off Koheles Rabbah 7:3. He notes that that some hold that the father gets to name the child first (...
- 40.7k
6
votes
Trying to track down the textual source of a Jewish quote about a Rabbi Neskizh
Here.
ואמר שסיפר לו אחיו הקאוולר זצוקלה"ה איך שאביהם הנעסכיזו זצוקלה"ה אמר לו " בני הלא מי שאינו מרגיש חבלי לידה ממש כמו שיש להיולדת שהיא בתוך חמשים מייל סביבותיו כדי להתפלל עבורה לעשות ...
- 1,990
5
votes
Halachot of IVF
For future reference, there are two more very relevant books on the topic in English. I read them both and they are excellent
Third Key: Jewish Guide to Fertility by Baruch and Michal Finkelstein, ...
- 45.6k
5
votes
If a woman cannot have children, can she marry?
Rema, Even HaEzer 1:3
וּבַזְּמַן הַזֶּה נָהֲגוּ שֶׁלֹּא לָכֹף עַל זֶה. וְכֵן מִי שֶׁלֹּא קִיֵּם פְּרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה וּבָא לִשָּׂא אִשָּׁה שֶׁאֵינָהּ בַּת בָּנִים, כְּגוֹן עֲקָרָה וּזְקֵנָה אוֹ ...
- 5,312
5
votes
Does a pregnant or nursing woman fast on a postponed Tish'ah B'Av?
Nishmat writes
Whether a pregnant woman is exempt from fasting on a delayed Tisha
B'Av is a matter of halachic debate. There is further debate
regarding the halachic status of the first three ...
- 45.6k
5
votes
Are Noahide women permitted to undergo a tubal ligation?
According to sefer Sheva Mitzvot Hashem, (Vol II, helek 5, 9:1), a tubal ligation is permitted for bnot noach. And further says: that even more than this could be done for reasons of safety or health ...
- 6,854
5
votes
Why does the Torah say a woman has "sperm" or "seed"?
What a word in the Torah means is best determined not by the most frequently-used English translation of that word but by examining how that word is used in context in the Torah or possibly in ...
- 47.6k
4
votes
Accepted
May a non-Jew have an abortion?
Are non-Jews permitted to have abortions? According to Sefer Sheva Mitzvot Hashem only if a noahide woman is in risk of dying in childbirth (due to her fetus). The base for this is Rambam in Rotseach ...
- 6,854
4
votes
Woman with 2 wombs in regards to pidyon haben
the mishna in bechoros states that a child born after a ceaserian birth does not require pidyon (this is codified as halcha). gemara explains that although he is considered the opener of the womb, he ...
- 1,129
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