Family and Relationships
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Non-Natural Births or Conceptions
What are the Talmud’s views about non-naturally occurring births or conceptions? The Talmud is quite familiar with births that don’t occur naturally — Caesarian sections, for example. (The Talmudic term is “yotze dofen” — “coming out through the [abdominal] wall”;…
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Egg Donation
What does Jewish Law say about egg donation? Rabbinical views differ on the legal implications of using a donor egg. Assuming that the process is permissible, most authorities would probably agree that a non-Jewish egg is preferable, but opinions differ…
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The Torah View on Abortion
What is the Torah view on abortion? Answer: The Torah holds human life to be of the utmost value; this applies also to fetal life. Hence abortion is basically forbidden. However, the Torah differentiates between born and unborn life, and…
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Modesty for Little Girls
At what age do girls have to begin dressing according to the Jewish laws of modesty? From the age of 3, a girl should dress in a modest manner appropriate to her age in her society. This is very relative.…
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Exposure to Immodest Dress
At what age should a boy no longer be exposed to girls and who are not dressed modestly, e.g. at a women’s swimming pool? From an age at which he starts remembering things, say after 4 or 5, he shouldn’t…
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Physical Contact and Little Children
At what age do the laws of Negiah (physical contact) begin for boys and girls?At what age is it no longer permissible for a man to arry a girl, or for a woman to touch or carry a boy? Technically,…
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A Man Listening to a Women Singing
Why is a male not allowed to listen to a female singing? Why is talking permitted? The Talmud states, based on a verse in Shir HaShirim (the Song of Songs, 2:14), that a woman’s voice is to be considered Ervah,…
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Pornography
On the radio today, Dr. Laura had a call from a woman whose husband “occasionally” views pornography. This woman has been married 30 years to the same man, and has two adult children. Dr. Laura was shocked that this woman…