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The Yiddish word for “breast” is “brust”
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe
Syosset, New York
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According to Rabbi Perl [Chabad in Mineola, New York], “breastfeeding is valued by Jewish tradition (“traditsye”). The Talmud discusses breast- feeding duration in a number of contexts and in most cases, assumes a duration of 24 months...age five is considered the upper limit for nursing in Jewish law.”
On a more lighter note, the “Nursing Mother Principle” says, “Do not nurse a kid who wears braces.”
Rabbi Perl adds that the mother is advised to begin breastfeeding on the left side, ‘close to the heart’ (“harts”). He also reminds us that the breastfeeding mother should dress modestly under all circumstances, including during breastfeeding.
The Hebrew word “shad” means “breast.” And “mothers should be able to nurse in synagogues everywhere, and be celebrated for doing what’s an inherently religious--indeed--Jewish act,” says Aurora Mendelsohn.
Emily Wax-Thibodeaux, 40, is a Washington Post National Staff Writer and award-winning foreign correspondent. She’s covered veterans, veterans affairs, and the culture of government. She’s also covered the war in Darfur, rape in India, and Sesame Street in Afghanistan. Now she’s written an essay in the Washington Post, titled, “Why I don’t breastfeed, if you must know.”
She writes about the critical response she said she got from a “fremder” (stranger) who observed her feeding her “oyfele zun” (infant son) formula. Why even lactation consultants at “der shpitol” (the hospital) descended on the family’s hospital room to suggest breastfeeding as a “besser” (better) option. She jokingly called them the “breast-feeding nazis.”
When the new mom explained that she is a “brust” (breast) cancer (“rak”) survivor who had a double mastectomy with reconstruction and was unable to breast-feed, they still insisted. “Just try,” one advised. “Let’s hope you get some milk (“milkh”).” Perhaps they weren’t aware that five years after surgery and with two rounds of IVF, Emily finally got pregnant.
Nine months after her son, Lincoln, was born, she’s still stunned by “der druk” (the pressure) and judgment she faces from friends and strangers. She encountered this “breast is best” reaction at many places: parks, cafes, and some friends’ homes. Her thought: “But motherhood is about so much more.”
Her breast surgeon “khirurg” (surgeon), Shawna C. Willey, said, “I think that women who have made the difficult decision to have bilateral mastectomies have already grieved the loss of not being able to breast- feed. No group should make a woman feel guilty (“shuldik”) about the decisions she made...or make her feel inadequate about not being able to lactate.”
Emily Wax-Thibodeaux is now back at work. She’s grateful (“dankbar”) to her baby yoga instructor, who said, “In a few years when they’re in preschool, you will never have to talk about breast-feeding again. So don’t even think about it. Enjoy your baby. You earned it.” Note: The Yiddish words meaning “to enjoy” are “hanoe hobn fun.”
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Reading about the experiences of Emily Wax-Thibodeaux brings to mind
the following Yiddish expression:
“Az me redt zikh arop fun hartsen, vert gringer.” (When one person pours out his heart, he feels lighter.)
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