Igrot Kodesh · Letter 828 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

17 Kislev 5711,
Brooklyn,

I bless and greet you [1],

I received your letter of 27 Cheshvan in its time. Due to my many activities, I have been unable to respond until now.

In your letter you ask me the following question. You already have two children, and the doctor is asking you to use contraceptives. You want to know my view on this.

You know that, generally, birth control is foreign to the Torah perspective, for which children are a blessing from Hashem. Likewise, the Torah considers that a Yid cannot have purely personal motivations, since each person is an integral part of the people of Israel, and as such, what concerns him personally in fact touches the Jewish people as a whole.

How much more so in the present era, after the persecutions and misfortunes, r"l*, cost the lives of so many millions of Yidden, who thereby sanctified the Name of Hashem.

Nevertheless, when the health of a Yid — man, woman, or child — is at stake, the Torah permits contraception under certain conditions [2], for, as the Rambam emphasizes, being in good health is an integral part of the service of Hashem.

It is however difficult to state a general principle in this matter. Everything depends on the nature of the negative effect a birth may have on the mother's state of health, as well as on the form of contraceptive adopted.

I therefore propose that you consult your doctor again, determine which form of contraception he recommends, and then consult an Orthodox and chassidic Rav, who will formulate his opinion.

May Hashem guide you on the straight path, so that you may be in perfect health and derive much nachas* from your children, as well as your husband, the Rav.

With my blessing,

Menachem Schneerson,