Birth Control in Jewish Law

by David M. Feldman

Book Overview

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0814701469
• ISBN13: 9780814701461
• Release Date: January 1968
• Publisher: New York University Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.

Customer Reviews

An Excellent Resource

I would like to recommend to those interested in the subject of Birth Control the book Birth Control in Jewish Law: Marital Relations, Contraception and Abortion as Set Forth in the Classic Texts of Jewish Law by David M. Feldman. I read the original edition a couple of years ago and I am now reading the 1998 edition. The author does not assume a lot of Jewish cultural understanding. He defines the Jewish terms as he goes. Although this can be overwhelming, it is of great help to the non-Jewish reader. He also makes clear the source of any statement, provides rabbinic reasoning and the progression of thought as it developed through time and along liberal and conservative lines. The author also includes some limited information about 'christian' thought on the subject. As the subtitle indicates, the book does not cover just birth control (the prevention of birth) but it includes all aspects of marital intimate relations and procreation. In the introduction the author states "Birth Control in Jewish Law, comprehending, as always, birth management more than prevention." I think the is a good clarification, birth control is not just about prevention, and is more correctly an issue of management. Choosing when to have children, not just when not to. This book is a good example of scholarship - as opposed to much of the feeling based, superficial writing on this, and may other, subjects.