Question: I had miscarriage not too long ago. Now, it states that if it was to be a baby boy and the mother and father of the baby are not from the tribe of Levi, they were to have a Pidyon HaBen (redemption of the 1st born). Now that I had my miscarriage with my first baby, which was approximately 10 weeks old, do I miss out on Pidyon HaBen if, G-d willing, I have a boy with my next pregnancy?

Answer: Thank you for your question. I’m so sorry to hear about your miscarriage – I know from personal experience how difficult this is. This is unfortunately much more common than people think. In answer to your question, if the fetus was beyond 40 days in the development stage (as apparently yours was), there would be no requirement to have a Pidyon HaBen in the subsequent child was a boy. However, please bear in mind that the same would apply if someone had a live birth of a boy through a c-section, or if a girl was born first. So, I wouldn’t look at it as a “missing out” as much as an “exemption”.

Take care,
Rabbi Aaron Tendler