Birth Archives - AskTheRav

Regarding a Kiddush for my daughter’s birth, can I do it on Friday night after the meal? Similarly, can I do it during the week?

The custom of hosting a celebratory feast for the birth of a daughter has early origins. The Gemoro in Bava Basra (91a) states that Boaz had thirty sons and…

Is it In accordance with the code of Jewish law for an unmarried 37 year old Jewish woman to go through the procedure of having her eggs frozen?

First of all, I want to give her a Brocha that she find her Bashert very soon so this answer will only have to be theoretical. There is room…

I am pregnant and have had to do an ultrasound as per Dr request. In such cases, should I ask the technician specifically not to tell me the baby’s gender? In other words is there a Makor for not finding out before birth?

One should avoid discovering the gender of the fetus. Sources: ראה ב״ר סה, יב: שבעה דברים מכוסים מבני אדם וכו׳ ואין אדם יודע מה בעבורה של אשה. וכ״ה…

Can one bring a Shir Hamolas card into the labor room to be visible during labor (for the woman to feel safer)? Can it be see through? Would these issues apply to a picture of a Tzadik?

It must be covered with two covers, one of then not visible. This does not apply according to Halacha to a picture of a Tzadik. Nonetheless, Chassidim have a…

At what point can one consider a woman a Yoledes and can start calling a taxi and do Melachos with a Shinui?

See here and here.

לאחד מהמקורבים שלנו נולדו בן ובת תאומים, הם רוצים לקיים מנהג ישראל לעשות סעודת הודאה/קידוש לכבוד הבת, האם יכולים לצאת ידי חובה בסעודת הברית בתור סעודת הודאה על הבת או צריכים אירוע נפרד?

יש לעשות קידוש או סעודה בנפרד, או לפחות כשאי אפשר או כשיש צורך - לייחד משהו מיוחד (תבשיל מיוחד, אורח מיוחד וכו׳) בסעודת הברית עבור - ולזכות - הבת. …

What is the Chabad Minhag in regarding purchasing new items for a baby before he/she were born. And does it also apply to things that are necessary immediately after leaving the hospital?

Although some have the custom to refrain from buying clothing and other items for a baby until it is born, there is no explicit Torah source supporting this tradition.…

Is it Minhag Chabad to say Shecheyanu when a father first holds his baby daughter?

He should say Shecheyanu when he sees her for the first time. Sources: סדר ברה״נ יב, יב. יש הטוענים שמנהג חסידים לא לברך. וכמדומה גם הגרמ״ש ע״ה אשכנזי מסר…

What is the Minhag/Halacha for Anash regarding making a Brocha on the birth of a child? The mother saying Hagomel upon giving birth?

The Brocha for a boy - Hatov V'hameytiv immediately upon hearing the news. For a girl - Shecheyanu when seeing the baby. The mother should wait till she could…

I have seen about the Chiyuv Aliya a husband has when the wife goes to Shul the first time after birth, and after 40 days from birth etc. What do we do in practice? My wife had a baby few days ago and went to Shul for Mincha today already. When do I need Aliyos, besides the Shabbos before and day of the Bris?

These Minhagim should be kept. If she already went to Shul, then you should have an Aliya the next opportunity, which will anyhow be the Shabbos before the Bris. Since…