Pidyon haben

Pidyon ha - Ben (Hebrew, triggering the Son ' ) is an Orthodox Judaism prescribed, evidence-based Ex 13,2 ff rite with respect to the first-born sons.

If the first-born son is turned thirty days old, you have to him by the priest " trigger ". " Firstborn " ( Bechor ) in this regard is that son who comes first from the womb of his mother ( by whose birth the woman for first-time mothers is ), and the light of day. In other words, even if the infant is not the first-born of his father - but his mother - he must be triggered.

The son must not be triggered if the father is a Cohen or a Levite or his mother is the daughter of a Cohen or Levite. Even if a child has come, for example, by a Caesarean section on the world, it does not have to be triggered. After abortion, there is a special situation that requires mostly a rabbinic decision necessary.

The obligation to trigger the firstborn, the second requirement of his father (the first is the circumcision). If the infant does not fire for some reason of his father, he must make it up yourself later - just as he also has to make up the circumcision itself, if his father have not been circumcised him.

All Firstborn God sanctified ( in the traditional inheritance are due to the firstborn of the double portion). If a firstborn son comes into the world, to solve it symbolically - because of the fact that the Cohen, the priest, has assumed the task, which was actually meant for this firstborn. He lawfully entitled to the family, so you have to trigger it from Cohen, who has taken his place.

The infant must be triggered with money, with five silver coins the pure silver weight is at least 117 grams; such coins are there marked by the Bank of Israel. Also, other pure silver can be used.

The initiation ceremony ( presentation of five coins to the Cohen as a " ransom ", accompanied by blessings and the ceremony can be performed even without the present infant ) are found during a mandatory meal ( Se'udat Mitzvah ) instead and has carried out during daytime ( there are exceptions, for example, to bypass the Shabbat, where one does not do " transactions"), it generally takes place in the afternoon hours, and the subsequent meal then drags into the evening.

Literature (selection )

• Article pidyon HAVE, in: Jewish Encyclopedia, Berlin 1927, Vol IV / 1, Spp. 932 ff
• Israel Meir Lau, How Jews live: Faith - everyday - Fixed. Gütersloher publishing house, 7th Edition, Gütersloh 2001