Comments on: Breastfeeding and Judaism: Why Moses' Mother Didn't Put Bottles Into The Ark Of Bulrushes

By: Hannah @AMotherInIsrael

Hannah @AMotherInIsrael — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:22:34 +0000

dlhdesign–
Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
I wrote:
“According to the midrashic commentary Moses refused to nurse from an Egyptian nursemaid, so the biblical text has Pharaoh’s daughter sending for a Jewish one. The nursemaid turns out to be none other than Yocheved, Moses’ own mother.”
I think we agree!
-Hannah @Green Prophet

By: Hannah @AMotherInIsrael

Hannah @AMotherInIsrael — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:22:34 +0000

By: dlhdesign

dlhdesign — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:01:16 +0000

Great article, but you should know that it is NOT a midrash that Moshe's mother was the one to have breastfed him, it says it straight in the text – and of course this makes your point that much stronger – Shemot 2:7 – 2:9 (2:8 states “The girl (Miriam) went and summoned the boy's mother.”) Take a look!

By: Karin Kloosterman

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:43:06 +0000

Breastfeeding and Judaism: Why Moses' Mother Didn't Put Bottles Into The Ark Of Bulrushes http://is.gd/7M6w6

By: Breastfeeding Late Preterm Babies | A Mother in Israel

Breastfeeding Late Preterm Babies | A Mother in Israel — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:17:21 +0000

[...] Supply and Demand (Part of the Green Prophet Breastfeeding Series) [...]

By: Maya Norton

Maya Norton — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:37:47 +0000

Thank you for this article. I hope you will feature more like it in the future.

~ Maya

The New Jew: Blogging Jewish Philanthropy

By: Erika

Erika — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:52:36 +0000

I enjoyed reading this article very much! It is interesting and empowering to learn more about how breastfeeding our babies is not only the healthiest way to feed them but also the way The Almighty intended.

According to, Tzava’at Rabbi Yehudah HaChasid, “When nursing her newborn child for the first time, a mother should begin on the left side. because the baby should have his first meal from the place that’s closest to the seat of understanding – the heart.”

I believe this line of thought in Judaism proves the important role that breastfeeding DOES have in both feeding and mothering a child.

By: Inbal

Inbal — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:19:35 +0000

Thanks so much, Hanna, for expanding my education on breastfeeding. I hope to learn more from you on this subject so that I may continue to offer empowering information to moms. Yishar Koah

By: Hannah Katsman

Hannah Katsman — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:49:21 +0000

Hi Ziva,
The quote from the ganenet is an illustration, not a proof. I base my opinion on contact with thousands of breastfeeding mothers in Israel. Of course, you are free to disagree.
I am not judging mothers for choosing formula nor would I ever say that “a priority . . . should be given to breastfeeding . . . at the expense of caring for an infant’s wellbeing (ie. food intake and nutrition) at any cost (formula).” But priority should be given to breastfeeding, because it is the biological norm and because of the documented risks of formula feeding. Ninety percent of pregnant Israeli women say they intend to breastfeed, but 70% of babies get a bottle in the hospital.
I would like to see mothers to get the help they need *and want* to make breastfeeding work instead of being advised to wean at the first sign of trouble. Ideally they would get support and accurate information from the beginning to prevent problems. Despite the “prevalence” of breastfeeding in Israel this is not usually the case.
I think we can agree on the importance of caring for babies lovingly, and this is not dependent on the way they are fed. Preventing abuse and neglect is an important goal.

By: Ziva

Ziva — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:13:00 +0000

Wow. I’m not sure where to begin to explain how offensive your post is. Is it your complete unfamiliarity with the prevalent and popular culture of breastfeeding across Israel – by native and long-term Israelis? Is it your generalization of Israelis’ intolerance for breastfeeding and preference for independence by the overheard opinion of one person’s friend-of-a-friend’s-teacher’s-dog’s-grandmother? Is it your judgmental tone which derides ‘anyone can mix powder and formula’? Or is it your self-righteous sermon that presupposes a priority that should be given to breastfeeding, say at the expense of caring for an infant’s wellbeing (ie. food intake and nutrition) at any cost (formula)l?
Your assumptions here are maddening. For women who choose not to breastfeed for a variety of reasons, ranging from medical conditions to pure personal preference, it is ultimately their prerogative. Not yours to judge or quantify.
What we should be focusing on in Israel is not whether someone is or is not bonding with their baby according to your standards – or halacha’s if you choose to justify your choices that way. In Israel’s current society, with an increasing number of neglected and abused children, we should be focusing our efforts on supporting caring for children at any cost. Whether that includes breastfeeding or not should not matter.