Infertility
Stories and discussions of the challenges of infertility are common throughout the Jewish textual tradition. Each of the four biblical matriarchs, as well as other biblical characters, struggle with infertility; their stories provide windows into the multi-faceted emotional aspects of the experience and different ways of reacting to it. Texts throughout the centuries address halakhic questions related to infertility – and, more recently, reproductive technology – as well as religious and ethical perspectives on these topics.
Notable Sources
All Sources
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Abraham's Plea for ProgenyTANAKH
Abraham's Plea for Progeny
TANAKH
God promises Abraham many offspring, but he remains childless for a long time. The book of Genesis records Abraham’s desire for children and despondence at not having any thus far.
The Divine Desire for PrayerMIDRASH
The Divine Desire for Prayer
MIDRASH
Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca, and Leah all pray to God for children in the book of Genesis. Midrash Tanchuma, a medieval collection of midrash, proposes a reason for their barrenness.
The Despair of ChildlessnessCOMMENTARY
The Despair of Childlessness
COMMENTARY
In the book of Genesis, Rachel remains barren while her sister Leah has several children. Rashi, in his renowned 11th-century commentary on the Torah, provides insight into the emotional and existential despair associated with infertility.
Hannah's Prayer for a ChildTANAKH
Hannah's Prayer for a Child
TANAKH
Like many women before her, Hannah pleads before God for a child. I Samuel narrates Hannah’s anguish and uninhibited prayer at the site of the Tabernacle.
The Fertility of TorahKABBALAH
The Fertility of Torah
KABBALAH
Rabbinic texts debate whether study or practice is more important. The Zohar, a foundational work of Jewish mysticism, compares Torah without mitzvot to infertility in order to answer this question.
Eve's Two Names JEWISH THOUGHT
Eve's Two Names
JEWISH THOUGHT
In the book of Genesis, Adam gives Eve two names: "isha," or woman, and Eve. Rabbi Yitzchak Arama, in his 15th-century work, explores the significance of these two names and their implication for how people experiencing infertility may find meaning.
The Physical Toll of Scholarly DedicationTALMUD
The Physical Toll of Scholarly Dedication
TALMUD
The Babylonian Talmud relates that a number of scholars suffered impotence from intense scholarly dedication, as well as a particular remedy used by Rav Acha bar Ya’akov.
Prayers for FertilityCHASIDUT
Prayers for Fertility
CHASIDUT
Modern medical technology has allowed for several solutions to infertility. In A Lifetime Companion to the Laws of Jewish Family Life, pediatrician Dr. Deena Zimmerman discusses the halakhic considerations with regard to these methods.
The Role of Respect in Marital HarmonyTALMUD
The Role of Respect in Marital Harmony
TALMUD
Derech Eretz Zuta, a minor tractate of the Babylonian Talmud, underscores the importance of honoring one’s spouse and connects this trait to fertility.