pru u'rvu in caeserean births
I am an obstetrician in Melbourne Australia. I have quite a few charedi patients (ken yirbu!). A small number of them have had multiple caesarean
I have been married for five years and we have not yet been blessed with children. We have been to specialists who have performed a whole battery of tests which have not uncovered any problem with my wife. I have also undergone a sperm analysis which did not show any abnormalities. The doctors cannot find a reason for our problem and advise that the only solution is IVF. I have read that this is halakhically problematic.
1. Is there any way to have IVF treatment in a halakhically acceptable manner?
2. If there is, what safeguards need to be in place?
3. Is a child born through such a procedure considered the full son of the father?
4. Would such a child, if male, inherit the father’s kohen status?
5. Have the parents fulfilled the mitsva of peru u-revu?
6. Are there any other solutions to our problem?
1. According to most posqim the answer is yes.
2. For the worldwide safeguard question, please contact Rabbi Menahem Burstein, director of PUAH.
Tel: 972-2-5375050
Fax: 972-2-5373053 (you must wait for the machine to switch to ‘accept’ mode)
3. Though there is disagreement on this issue, according to most posqim the answer is yes.
4. More time is needed to give an authoritative answer to this question.
5. Yes, according to most posqim.
6. Please call me at the following number between 10-12 PM Israel time: 972-2-678-6656.
For further information, please see Prof. A. S. Abraham’s The Comprehensive Guide to Medical Halachah, 50:3 (“Artificial Insemination”), p. 224:
Insemination for a test-tube baby is permitted only when other means have failed, and only the husband’s semen may be used. (Oral communication from Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef; printed in Tehumin 1, p. 287. See also Rabbi Nebenzahl in Assia 34 [Tishrei 5743]. And see also responsa Tsits Eli‘ezer vol. 15, 45, who forbids it). Competent halakhic authority must be consulted.
See also Rabbi Pevsner and Rabbi Ginsburg’s article in the latest issue of Assia (61-62) for the opinion of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
I am an obstetrician in Melbourne Australia. I have quite a few charedi patients (ken yirbu!). A small number of them have had multiple caesarean
כיצד ינהג אדם החולה בסוכרת המטופלת בכדורים בצום יום הכיפורים?
יולדת ביוה"כ הבעל"ט שלום וברכה. רציתי לשאול לגבי אישתי "שאלת רב" מה לעשות לגבי צום ביום הכיפורים הבעל"ט והתנהגות לגביה. אישתי נמצאת בשבוע ה 39
בוקר טוב, אני בת 28, בהריון ראשון, באמצע השבוע ה-14. לפני כשבועיים שאלתי את הרופא לגבי צום תשעה באב והוא אמר שהוא ממליץ לא לצום,