Midwives feature in a variety of contexts in the Jewish textual tradition. In the Book of Exodus, the midwives Shifra and Puah defy Pharaoh’s orders to kill all Israelite baby boys, instead keeping them alive. Rabbinic sources analyze topics like under what conditions a midwife can violate the Sabbath, and various responsa incorporate medical knowledge provided by midwives into the process of legal decision making.
Topics Pages present a curated selection of various genres of sources on thousands of chosen subjects. You can browse by category, search for something specific, or view the most popular topics — and related topics — on the sidebar. Explore and click through to learn more.
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