Nishmat's Women’s Health and HalachaIn memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

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Breastfeeding sources

13 May, 2005

Question:

Hi, Firstly I want to tell you how wonderful I think your website is!

I am writing to find out biblical, talmud, or halachic sources for breastfeeding. I have a religious, pregnant friend who does not intend to breastfeed because the religious women that she turns to bottlefeed and she does not feel it is significant. So, other than medical reasons, I wanted to supply her with Jewish concepts and sources. I know that Chana nursed Shmuel until 2 when she brought him to Eli, and I heard in passing something about Rivka nursing Yakov, but I never needed convincing so I do not know so much about breastfeeding from a religious perspective. I would greatly appreciate any articles, sources, or a point in the right direction to find them. Thank you, Shabbat shalom!


Answer:

We hope to eventually post an article on this important topic.  It is discussed briefly in our video on breastfeeding. In the meanwhile, you could direct your friend to the relevant section of Dr. Deena Zimmerman's book A Lifetime Companion to the Laws of Jewish Family Life and to her article on duration of breastfeeding in Jewish Women and Jewish Law.

 


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