The present publication is an anthology of Chabad customs regarding pregnancy and childbirth, including the topics: conduct during pregnancy; conduct during delivery; bris milah; pidyon haben; birth of a daughter; miscellaneous.

These customs have been compiled from the writings of our Rebbeim and Nesi’im: The Alter Rebbe’s Siddur; Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe Rashab gWb; Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe Rayatz gWb; and — a large majority — from the Sichos and Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe Shlita.

Whenever possible the customs have been transcribed verbatim from the words of our Rebbeim and Nesi’im [except for things written in Yiddish that have been translated into Hebrew, or passages that appeared in the middle of some other topic and thus could not be transcribed verbatim].

For the public benefit we have added comments and literature citations beneath each custom.

Notice: Not all of these customs are explicitly designated in their source as being instructions that apply to the general public. Nevertheless — to make this work complete — all of it has been included in this anthology.

All the above was compiled and edited by Rabbi Avraham Y. Holtzberg.

Editorial Board of “Otzar HaChassidim”

Third Night of Chanukah 5752
Ninetieth year (eWhsmv ,ba) of the Rebbe Shlita
Brooklyn, New York