Understanding the tradition of pidyon haben

LILA BALTMAN
Special to Jewish News
Pidyon haben, which refers to the redemption of the first-born son, is one of the oldest of all Jewish rituals, but is one that Rabbi Zvi Holland of the Phoenix Community Kollel says, "is a mitzvot that many people today don't even know exists."

While most Reform and Conservative Jewish families in the Valley host brisim and baby-naming ceremonies to welcome their first-born children, it is actually rare to find a family that is hosting a pidyon haben.

For many, the ceremony - in which parents buy their first-born sons back from a representative of the priesthood - seems hopelessly antiquated, legalistic and devoid of spirituality. After all, it is a ritual that refers to a caste system and treats daughters as non-persons. But the revival of interest in tradition has helped focus attention on the elements of pidyon haben that speak to the powerful feelings evoked by a first-born child.

What parents today need to know is that there are actually many factors and "rules" that determine when and if to perform this ceremony. You will need to find a rabbi well versed in Jewish law who can guide you through this procedure.

In general, pidyon haben only applies to the son who "opened his mother's womb." Therefore, all the following conditions must apply:
  1. The mother is Jewish, and she has never had a baby before, male or female.

  2. The baby was not delivered via C-section.

  3. The mother had no abortions or miscarriages prior to this birth.

  4. The father of the baby is not a Kohen or a Levi, and the mother's father is not a Kohen or a Levi.
If the above conditions check out, then:
  1. Contact a rabbi.

  2. Get five silver dollars.

  3. The pidyon haben ceremony is held after the baby is 30 days old, on the 31st day. It does not take place on Shabbat.
According to Holland, "If your baby does not meet the conditions for having pidyon haben, don't be concerned - there is no defect in his status. In fact, only about 1-of-10 families ever meet all the conditions for pidyon haben."

Like all Jewish ceremonies, pidyon haben is very brief, consisting of a few exchanges between the father and the rabbi. The actual ceremony is as follows: The father attests to the fact that this is indeed his first-born son. The rabbi then asks the father: "Which do you prefer, to give me your first born or to redeem him?" (It is really a rhetorical question, because the Torah requires that the father redeem his son.)

The father then says the following two blessings:
  1. Baruch ata Adonoy, Elo-heinu Melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu bi'mitzvo-sav, vi'tzivanu al Pidyon haben. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His mitzvot, and instructed us regarding the redemption of a son.

  2. Baruch ata Adonoy, Elo-heinu Melech ha'olam, Sheh-he-che-yanu vi-kee-yimanu Vi-hee-gee-yanu laz-man ha-zeh. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.
The father then gives the coins to the rabbi, who blesses the child, and recites a blessing over a cup of wine. The company then proceeds to eat, drink and be merry.

If you would like more information on conducting a pidyon haben, contact a rabbi of your choosing or call Holland at 602-433-0300, ext. 101.


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