Chagigah Archives | Rosh Yeshiva Responds

Brit Mila on Shabbat for a Baby Conceived Through IVF or IUI

July 31st, 2024|Family, Fertility, Lifecycles, Milah, Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION

How does the Rosh Yeshiva hold regarding brit milah on Shabbat for babies conceived through IVF? What about IUI?

ANSWER

I unhesitatingly rule that it is performed on Shabbat. The gemara (Keritot 7b) explains the pasuk from Parshat Tazria – כי תזריע וילדה זכר – עד שתלד ממקום שמזרעת, namely that a mother is only tamei’a (ritually impure) from tumat leida (impurity that is created by the birth process) after vaginal birth, but not if she gave birth in any other manner. Elsewhere, based on the juxtaposition of the laws of tumat leida and brit mila, the Gemara (Shabbat 135a) connects the

Halakhic Status of a Deaf Person who Cannot Speak: Part 1 – Gemara and Rishonim

September 5th, 2016|Disabilities|

Introduction

Traditionally, halakha has ruled that a deaf person who could not speak – a cheresh – is not considered to be a bar da’at – a person of sufficient intelligence and understanding to have standing as an agent or responsible party in halakha. His status is the same as a minor and a shoteh, a person who has a confused understanding of reality (similar to a schizophrenic). Thus, a cheresh is not obligated in mitzvot, even

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