DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 2.54 MB)
Accompanying a Woman in Labor to the Hospital on Shabbat

If a woman goes into labor on Shabbat and must be taken to the hospital, may her husband and mother join her?

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 330:1) writes that a woman in labor has the status of a "Holeh She’yesh Bo Sakana" – an ill patient in a condition of potential risk to life. As such, the Shabbat prohibitions are waived for anything that is necessary to help her, which includes anything necessary to keep her calm and relaxed. Halacha permits turning on the lights for a woman in labor on Shabbat even if she is blind, and will not directly benefit form the light, if she will be comforted knowing that the room is illuminated. This demonstrates Halacha’s understanding of, and sensitivity to, the emotional wellbeing of a seriously ill patient, and its recognition of the importance of keeping the patient at ease.

Certainly, then, anyone whom the woman wishes to accompany her to the hospital for her comfort and peace of mind may do so.

Preferably, a non-Jew should drive, because then no Torah violation is involved, as asking a non-Jew to perform a Melacha on Shabbat is forbidden only by force of Rabbinic enactment. This is permissible on Shabbat even for an ill patient whose condition is not potentially life-threatening. In the case of a woman in labor, even Torah prohibitions may be violated if necessary, but if it is possible to hire a non-Jewish driver, this would be preferable.

Summary: If a woman goes into labor on Shabbat and must be taken to the hospital, anyone whom she wishes to have with her for her comfort and peace of mind is permitted to accompany her. If possible, a non-Jewish driver should be hired.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Affixing Mezuzot in a Short-Term Rental
Wearing the Tefillin Shel Rosh Over a Toupee
The Definition of "Left-handed" for Purposes of Tefillin
Tefillin – Looking at the Tefillin Shel Rosh Before Placing It on the Head; When to Remove the Tefillin Shel Rosh From Its Bag; The Earliest Time for Tefillin
If a Person Mistakenly Removed His Tallit From its Bag Before the Tefillin
Does One Wear Tefillin Shel Yad if His Arm is in a Cast?
Must One Wear Specifically a Woolen Tallit Katan?
The Proper Position of a Mezuza on the Doorpost
The Beracha of Yoser Or – Touching the Tefillin, and Punctuating the Phrase, “Be’safa Berura U’bi’n’ima Kedusha”
The Leather Used for the Parchment Inside the Tefillin and the Tefillin Boxes
Elul - Wishing “Le’Shana Toba” in Written Correspondence, Checking Tefillin and Mezuzot
Speaking, Answering “Amen” and Gesturing While Putting On Tefillin
Using a Mirror to Check the Placement of One’s Tefillin
The Importance of the Misva of Tefillin
One Who Mistakenly Recited “Barech Alenu” in the Amida Instead of “Barechenu”
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found