Important clarification: the following page presents information and references, but to know the halakha, specific to each case, everyone will have to consult his Rav [1].
A Mitzvah from the Torah
Hashem commanded Moshe: “Consecrate to Me every firstborn cleaver of every womb, among the children of Israel, human or beast: he is Mine. “(Shemot 13:1-2) “And it will come to pass, when Hashem brings you to the land of kenaani (Canaanite), as He swore to you and to your fathers, and He gives it to you, pass to Hashem every cleaver of the womb, and every cleaver of the womb of a beast that belongs to you: the males will be to Hashem. And every firstborn of a donkey, thou shalt redeem him with a lamb, and if thou shalt not redeem him, break his neck. Every firstborn human among your sons, you will redeem him. ” (Shemot 13:11-13)
Thirty days after the birth, Jewish fathers have the duty to buy back their wife’s (Jewish, obviously) firstborn child from a Cohen. However, if the father or mother is Cohen or Levi the firstborn child is exempt from redemption – except in special cases [2].
Moreover, if only the mother is Jewish, this child himself will have to redeem himself to a Cohen after his religious majority (this role does not belong to either the mother or the grandfather). This mitzvah has not been fulfilled, it can be performed at the earliest and even at an advanced age if the opportunity has not presented itself before for reasons of political oppression for example, as in the Soviet Union.
When to make the redemption?
WHAT DAY?
Ordinary case – We will avoid delaying the redemption. It will be tried to carry out it at the entrance on the 31st day after birth. That is to say, after 30 days as stated in the verse וּפְדוּיָו֙ מִבֶּן־חֹ֣דֶשׁ תִּפְדֶּ֔ה בְּעֶ֨רְכְּךָ֔ כֶּ֛סֶף חֲמֵ֥שֶׁת שְׁקָלִ֖ים בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ עֶשְׂרִ֥ים גֵּרָ֖ה הֽוּא׃ (Bamidbar 18, 16).
The 31st day is a fasting day – The redemption is well done on this day, and the se’uda will be shifted after the end of the fast[3].
The 31st day is a Shabbat – The redemption will take place only the next day[4].
The 31st day is an evening of Rosh hashanah – The redemption is done the next day, so the 3 Tishri: but since it is fasting day (of Gedaliah), the meal takes place at the end of the fast.
SPECIAL CASES
In the event that the child could not have been circumcised for medical reasons until the thirtieth day or later, circumcision will first be performed [5]. But, in the event that the child could not be circumcised, neither on the 8th day, nor any of the following days until the 31st day, if, then, it is not yet possible to circumcise him, the redemption is still carried out on this 31st day, and circumcision will be made later, as soon as possible [6].
The Cohen’s choice
We will contact a Cohen chomer mitzvot (observing the divine commandments) respecting Shabbat in particular and eating kosher.
The ceremony is usually held at the family’s home with close relatives, a few friends and of course a Friend.
According to the strict halakha, it is not obligatory to gather a minyan, but this is an additional merit (and it would be necessary according to some opinions [7]).
If the 31st day after birth is a Shabbat, the redemption is postponed to the next day.
Various conditions and cases
The Doctor makes sure that the child is a firstborn, born in a natural way – This child will have to be born in a natural way. The modalities of birth are specified “from the matrix” and not in any other way. The Cohen must discreetly check with the mother if the Halakhic conditions are met to proceed with the ceremony [8].
In case of miscarriage before the birth of a boy
The Mishnah Bekhorot mentions the case of a miscarriage. It “stipulates that when a miscarriage has occurred during the first 40 days of pregnancy the next male newborn will be devoted to the Kohen and therefore will need to be redeemed. If the miscarriage occurred after the fortieth day, the next one will be exempted from redemption provided that the fetus expelled as a result of the miscarriage already had ‘a human form’ ” [9]. This topic also appears in the Shulchan Aruch [10]. M
How is this counting of the forty days done? The decision-makers discussed this complex topic[11] and made decisions. Rashi indicates that these 40 days must be counted from the tevila (immersion) to the Mikveh (ritual bath) [12]. The decision-makers come to the same conclusions about the most frequent case (that is, whether the last tevila follows rules and not a task): the 40 days will be counted from the last tevila [13]. This is even if some Rabbanim fear that 40 days after the last tevila, the fetus may be more than 40 days old. Indeed, in some cases the woman may have conceived before the last tevila (the bleeding found consisted of simple tasks and not menstruation; a conception could precede or follow the previous tevila in this particular case). These remarks explain the fears of some decision-makers, and the search for absolute certainty that the fetus is no more than 40 days old (which would only be possible if the woman had been separated from her husband during the three months preceding the last tevila).
After the first forty days of pregnancy, it is important to know the degree of development of the fetus at the time of miscarriage to find out whether or not it is possible to carry out the redemption. A doctor will be consulted to determine the level of development of the fetus (if, according to him, it is more than 40 days old). This information will be reported to a competent rav in this field who will decide the halakha about the next boy (whether or not to proceed with the redemption).
In case of cesarean section – In principle no redemption.
But there are a few exceptions. Contact a competent Halakhic authority who will decide on the course of action to be taken.
Case of a man to whom a second woman gives birth to a child who, for her, is first-born
We’re going according to the mother.
If a man has already had the opportunity to redeem the firstborn of a first wife, marries another woman who gives birth to a son, first born for her, this man will have to redeem this child: he is not exempt from redemption because he has already had the opportunity to practice this mitzvah. It is each firstborn of a woman who is the object of redemption to the Cohen [14].
Cases when the father did not make the redemption of his first-born son
This mitzvah of the Torah is addressed to the father, or, if necessary, to the son himself – as soon as he has the opportunity. He will not be able to redeem his own son until he himself has not fulfilled his obligation to be redeemed. He “will have to be redeemed first before his son, in the same ceremony. » [15]
Death after the age of 30 days without redemption
In the event of the death of a boy who has lived for more than a month and has not been redeemed (lo ‘alenu): the mitzvah will have to be fulfilled. His rav will be asked how to proceed [16].
Organization of the ceremony
The Cohen takes the child and declares: “This child is a firstborn and he belongs to me; the Holy One-Blessed-He has ordered to redeem him”.
In principle, the father must give the Cohen five pure silver coins with a precise weight of corresponding to a coin in use at the time of the Temple of Jerusalem (the redemption price is five Sela’, or 93 grams [17] of pure silver). Some give 100 grams or even 101 grams (gematria of Mikhael [18]).
In fact, to replace the original coins of this currency, either reproductions of these coins with the weight prescribed by the halakha are used, or gold and silver jewelry or coins, the value of which undoubtedly exceeds the value of the required five coins [19].
While the father hands over these coins or jewels, the Father can protest by saying that it is too little because the child has much more value than what is offered to him.
The Cohen takes the child in his arms and says: Ani rotse lifdoto chekakh kabuv batorah akh padoh tifdeh and bekhor haadam. Ufduyav miben-‘hodesh tifdeh be’erk kekha kesef ‘hameshet chekalim bishekel hakodesh. ‘esrim guerah hou. (transcript for illustrative purposes; see the text in Hebrew)
The father introduces his son.
Blessing
Before redeeming his son, the father recites the following two blessings: “Blessed art Thou Everlasting our God, king of the universe, who sanctified us by Your commandments and commanded us to redeem the firstborn”; “Blessed art thou Everlasting our God, king of the universe, who made us live, last and reach this moment”.
We prepare the five silver coins with the weight in accordance with the halakha (or jewelry exceeding the required value of the five silver coins).
In order for the present to see them well, they can be placed in a dish or in the father’s open hand. The father gives the required value to the Cohen.
Upon receiving the money the Cohen declares (see Hebrew text in a sidour). In particular, he says: “I have received the five coins for the redemption of your son, who is now redeemed according to the law of Moses and Israel…”
He recites the blessing of the Kohen.
After which, he hands the child over to the father.
(c) R’ Eliyahu Bakish, brit-milah.com