Pidjon ha-Ben
Pidjon ha-Ben ( Hebrew , ' redemption of the son') is a rite prescribed in Orthodox Judaism , based on Ex 13.2 ff., Relating to the firstborn sons .
In addition, release is also used for individual farm animals, especially first-born donkeys (see also release of animals ).
background
When the firstborn son is thirty days old, the priest must “redeem” him on the thirty-first day. If this is a Shabbat or another biblical holiday, the ceremony must be postponed for one day or two days, depending on the holiday, because no money may be touched on that day. “Firstborn” (Bechor) in this regard is the son who is the first to come out of his mother's womb (through whose birth the woman becomes the first-child) and sees the light of day. In other words, even if the infant is not his father's firstborn - but his mother's - it needs to be triggered.
The son does not need to be raised if the father is a Cohen or Levite or his mother is the daughter of a Cohen or Levite. Even if a child was born through a caesarean section, for example , it does not have to be triggered. After an abortion there is a special situation that usually requires a rabbinical decision.
The duty to redeem the firstborn is his father's second duty (the first is circumcision ). If for some reason the infant was not raised by his father, he must do it himself later - just as he must do the circumcision himself if his father did not circumcise him. A circumcision not carried out by the thirtieth day (for example because the child is weakened) does not release the father from the obligation to redeem.
All firstborn are sanctified to God (in traditional inheritance law, double the share is due to the firstborn). When a firstborn son is born, he is symbolically triggered - because the Cohen, the priest, has taken on the task of temple service that was actually intended for this firstborn. In order for it to be legally due to the family, it must therefore be removed from the Cohen, who has taken his place in the temple service. Even if the temple no longer exists today, rabbinic Judaism continues the redemption.
ceremony
The infant must be raised with money, with five silver coins (selaim) , the pure silver weight of which is at least 117 grams; there are such coins minted by the Bank of Israel . Other pure silver coins can also be used. This amount may not be refunded directly to the father and the recipient may use it freely. The main reward for the Cohen, however, will be to have fulfilled a mitzvah through his services .
The ceremony begins with everyone washing their hands. Then they all eat a small piece of bread with salt. The induction ceremony (handing over the five coins to the Cohen as a "ransom", accompanied by blessings ; the ceremony can also be performed without the infant present) takes place during a compulsory meal (Se'udat Mitzvah) and must be performed during the day (there are exceptions ; e.g. to bypass the Shabbat , on which one does not do "business"), it generally takes place in the afternoon hours, and the following meal then drags on into the evening.
Literature (selection)
- Article PIDJON HABEN , in: Jüdisches Lexikon , Berlin 1927, Vol. IV / 1, Spp. 932 ff.
- Israel Meir Lau : How Jews Live: Faith - Everyday Life - Festivals. 7th edition. Gütersloh publishing house, Gütersloh 2001.
Web links
- Noemi Berger: Glossary. Religious terms from the world of Judaism. Pidjon ha-Ben. In: Jüdische Allgemeine . October 10, 2012 .
- Pidjon HaBen release of the firstborn son - (information from the synagogue Karlsruhe)
- Alexander Dubrau: Pidjon ha-Ben. In: Michaela Bauks, Klaus Koenen, Stefan Alkier (Eds.): The Scientific Biblical Lexicon on the Internet (WiBiLex), Stuttgart 2006 ff.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g h Simon Philip de Vries : Jewish rites and symbols . In: rororo non-fiction . 11th edition. No. 18758 . Rowohlt, Reinbek near Hamburg 2010, ISBN 978-3-499-18758-2 , p. 210 ff., 216 ff .