Childbirth on Shabbat
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Question
Shalom, Rabbi,
If my wife needs to give birth on Shabbat, and I live in K.S., and Tel HaShomer and Maayanei HaYeshua are at about the same distance, with a difference of around 5 km, and my wife prefers Tel HaShomer because it is more professional,
and in Tel HaShomer there is a greater chance of stumbling into desecration of Shabbat,
what should be done?
Thank you.
If my wife needs to give birth on Shabbat, and I live in K.S., and Tel HaShomer and Maayanei HaYeshua are at about the same distance, with a difference of around 5 km, and my wife prefers Tel HaShomer because it is more professional,
and in Tel HaShomer there is a greater chance of stumbling into desecration of Shabbat,
what should be done?
Thank you.
Answer
Shalom uVracha
Every additional distance on the way includes hundreds of acts of kindling. Therefore, if there is no reason, it is forbidden by Torah law to add to the journey.
However, when there is clear "יתובי דעתא" in a particular hospital, it is permitted to add acts of kindling for the sake of calming the woman giving birth. [Not every "prefers" becomes "יתובי דעתא", but only something that truly stresses her, and by going to the other place she will be calmed].
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