Full-term Faith
When I was in Mexico, a woman came to see me with her little son. She placed him on the table, and said, “Rabbi David, this child is yours.”
Too many times, women consider aborting for no justified reason. I categorically prohibit this conduct. It is out-and-out murder. Even when I am aware that the baby was created out of wedlock, I do not allow aborting. Frequently, after these women carry full-term, they come to me with their babies, and emotionally exclaim, “Rabbi David, this one is yours!”
I thought the woman before me was just such a case. But I didn’t recall her asking my permission to abort, so I asked what she meant.
“A year ago I came to see you,” she began. “I wanted to receive a blessing for children, as I had been barren for many years. You stipulated that I must observe taharat hamishpachah as well as other mitzvot. I did exactly as you had instructed.
“After some time, a foreign body was found in my uterus. The doctors feared that it was a malignant growth, rachmana litzlan. After various tests and treatments, to everyone’s delight, it was found to be the beginning of a pregnancy.
“But my joy was not complete. I had taken some very strong medication. There was a real fear that the newborn would be born deformed. Therefore, the doctors suggested I abort. I asked the Torah opinion of some Rabbis, but they were afraid of taking responsibility, so they did not reply.
“Then I turned to you. You asked me: ‘What is your personal opinion on the matter? What is your true desire?’
“‘I have waited so long to become pregnant,’ I replied. ‘I have no desire to end the pregnancy now. I have full faith that Hashem will grant this baby full health.’
“The Rav advised me to maintain my faith, as well as my pregnancy. In your merit, I did not abort. Here is my child before you, completely healthy!”
This woman’s staunch faith in Hashem that He would preserve her baby earned her this Heavenly gift, the gift of a healthy, viable baby, one who contradicted the doctors’ dire predictions.
