Is it permissible to say how many children one has?

 

Question:

Is it permissible to say how many children one has when asked by someone: how many children do you have? Or do we simply answer in a roundabout way?

 

Answer:

It is forbidden to count Jewish people, instead, they should stick out their fingers and it should be counted.

However, according to Halacha one is permitted to say how many people there are.

Many are accustomed not to mention the number of children they have out of concern of an Ayin Hara.

 

Sources:

שוע”ר קנו, טו. וראה באג״ק שנדפס בקובץ אור ישראל תשרי תש״פ, בנוגע ספירת האצבעות.

עין הרע – ראה כמה דוגמאות בהתקשרות גל׳ תתקד.

 

 

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