Rabbi Elgazi on Breastfeeding, Fasting and Yom Kippur

In last week's Matzav Haruach, Rabbi Ben-Zion Elgazi's column is devoted to fasting on Yom Kippur. I liked his approach to breastfeeding so I am translating it here. You can find the original Hebrew text in this article I contributed to the blog of the Israeli Association of Certified Lactation … [Read more...]

Interview with Founder of Kayamamoms, for Single Religious Women Having Babies

Rusty Mike Radio interviewed Aviva Harbather, a founder of Kayamamoms. Kayamamoms was founded to help religious single women who are considering having babies on their own. The event discussed, with Rabbi Benny Lau, Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, a fertility doctor and a psychologist, took place on … [Read more...]

Coping with a Pesach Baby

A reader is expecting a baby a day or two before Passover, and has always been a week early so far. Unlike most of us, she can't afford to be in denial. It's true we got an extra month this year (Jewish leap year) but Pesach is still creeping up on us. Maybe this will start your wheels turning. . … [Read more...]

“Niddah” Art: Maybe This Month

A blogger sent me this photo of Jacqueline Nicholls' art, saying it was too "intense" for her site.   The piece looks tame, but contains several layers of meaning. The artist explains: It comes from my years experiencing the monthly niddah rituals, checking and preparing to go to the mikveh, … [Read more...]

Interesting Links #9

Chayyei Sarah on on reasons that Jewish women find it hard to to find a Jewish partner. Rebecca from The Big Felafel on shopping for maternity clothes in Israel. Miriam Shaviv on on Jewish racism. Haveil Havalim is up at The Israel Situation. Mazal tov to UberImma and family on their aliyah. … [Read more...]

Interesting Links #6: Preparing for Breastfeeding and Getting Help and More

On Shomer Shekalim, I have a guest post up on preparing for breastfeeding and getting help after birth. My reader interview at Cooking Manager today is with myself. Read about my mother's unique cooking style and how it influenced me. Haveil Havalim is now up at Ima on the Bima. Last week's … [Read more...]

Abortion in the Religious Zionist Community

See below for an update. In this week's newspaper Makor Rishon, Yifat Erlich interviews couples in the national religious community who underwent abortions because of health problems with the fetus. Afraid of criticism from their close-knit communities, many ended up alone during this traumatic … [Read more...]

Fasting on Tisha B’Av for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women

The 9th of the Jewish month of Av, known as Tisha B'Av, commemorates the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. On this most mournful day of the year, Jews are required to fast from sunset until nightfall the following day. (On a side note, most rabbinic opinions exempt pregnant and nursing … [Read more...]

A Radical Ruling: Breastfeeding and Fasting on Yom Kippur

Also see: Resources on Fasting During Pregnancy Our rabbi made an amazing statement this past Shabbat: Pregnant women and nursing mothers whose babies are solely dependent on their mothers' milk (including babies who take a small amount of solids, generally until 8 or 9 months) must not fast on … [Read more...]

Close Spacing II: Fertility and Parenting Styles

Part 1: When Does Chinuch Begin? There is a direct connection between the type of parenting and child spacing. When the baby stays with his mother day and night, nurses on cue without bottles and pacifiers, starts solids gradually at about six months, and spends a good deal of his time either … [Read more...]