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{{Short description|Jewish firstborn son redeemed from a kohen}}
{{italic title}}{{use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox Halacha
 | image = [[File:Pidyon HaBen P6020102.JPG|150px]]
 | caption = 
 | verse = {{bibleverse||Exodus|13:12–15|HE}}<br/> {{bibleverse||Exodus|22:29|HE}}<br/> {{bibleverse||Exodus|34:20|HE}}<br/> {{bibleverse||Numbers|3:45|HE}}<br/> {{bibleverse||Numbers|8:17|HE}}<br/> {{bibleverse||Numbers|18:16|HE}}<br/> {{bibleverse||Leviticus|12:2–4|HE}}
 | talmud =
 | mishnah =
 | rambam = 
 | sa = [[Yoreh De'ah]] 305
}}
{{Jews and Judaism sidebar |culture}}
{{Kehuna and Kohanim}}

The '''''pidyon haben''''' ({{langx|he|פדיון הבן}}) or '''redemption of the first-born son'''<ref>
{{cite book
 |first=Eugene Joseph |last=Cohen
 |year=1984
 |title=Guide to ritual circumcision and redemption of the first-born son
 |volume=1: The Redemption of the First-Born
 |quote=A mother's first-born is to be dedicated to the service of God, in accordance with the verse, 'Sanctify the first-born who opens the womb.' This sanctification was the result of an historical event.
}}
:
{{cite book
 |first=Michele |last=Klein
 |year=2000
 |title=A Time to be Born: Customs and folklore of Jewish birth
 |page=224
 |quote=They have attributed healing properties to the stick. [54] Redemption of the First-Born Son. A first child has special significance for both parents, and this was as true in biblical times as today, but then only when the child was male.
}}
:
{{cite book
 |first=Mark |last=Washofsky
 |year=2001
 |title=Jewish Living: A guide to contemporary reform practice
 |page=148
 |section=Redemption of the first-born son ('pidyon haben')
 |quote=In Jewish tradition, the first-born son is to be 'redeemed' from God. This originates in the belief that God 'acquired' the Israelite first-born by sparing them from 'makkat bekhorot'.
}}
:
{{cite book
 |first=Ruth |last=Langer
 |year=2005
 |title=To Worship to Worship God Properly: Tensions between liturgical custom and Halakhah in Judaism
 |series=Monographs of the Hebrew Union College
 |page=73
 |section=Redemption of the first born
}}</ref> is a [[mitzvah]] in [[Judaism]] whereby a Jewish firstborn son is "redeemed" with money.

The redemption is attained by paying five silver coins to a [[kohen]] (a patrilineal descendant of the priestly family of [[Aaron]]), on behalf of one's firstborn son.  Another object of equivalent value may also be used.

''Pidyon haben'' is a relatively rare ceremony. A family does not perform the ceremony if their firstborn is either a girl, or born by caesarian section, or preceded by a miscarriage (although some early miscarriages do not count as miscarriages), or if either grandfather is a Kohen or a [[Levite]].

==Origin==
[[File:Pidyon HaBen P6020058.JPG|thumb|right|200px|The silver tray, the silver coins and the glass for the wine]]
In the [[Hebrew Bible]] the laws (see [[mitzvah]]) concerning the redemption of the first-born male are referred to in [[Book of Exodus|Exodus]], [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] and [[Leviticus]]:
{{quote|You shall set apart for [[Tetragrammaton|יהוה]] every first issue of the womb: every male firstling that your cattle drop shall be יהוה’s. 
But every firstling ass you shall redeem with a sheep; if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck. And you must redeem every male first-born among your children. 
And when, in time to come, a child of yours asks you, saying, "What does this mean?" you shall reply, "It was with a mighty hand that יהוה brought us out from Egypt, the house of bondage. 
When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, יהוה slew every [male] first-born in the land of Egypt, the firstborn of both human and beast. Therefore I sacrifice to יהוה every first male issue of the womb, but redeem every male first-born among my children."
|{{Bibleverse|Exodus|13:12–15|HE}}}}

The redemption price for firstborn non-Levites was set at 5 [[shekel]]s:
{{quote|The first [male] issue of the womb of every being, human or beast, that is offered to יהוה, shall be yours; but you shall have the male first-born of human beings redeemed, and you shall also have the firstling of impure animals redeemed. 
Take as their redemption price, from the age of one month up, the money equivalent of five shekels by the sanctuary weight, which is twenty gerahs.|{{Bibleverse|Numbers|18:15-16|HE}}}}

The [[arakhin]] laws set the redemption price of different classes of people whose "value" was consecrated; the price for a male child under five years is similarly five shekels.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Leviticus|27:6|HE}}</ref>

The Torah describes the [[tribe of Levi]] (to which the priests belong) as having inherited the role of divine service which previously belonged to the firstborns:
{{quote|I hereby take the Levites from among the Israelites in place of all the male first-born, the first issue of the womb among the Israelites: the Levites shall be Mine. 
For every male first-born is Mine: at the time that I smote every [male] first-born in the land of Egypt, I consecrated every male first-born in Israel, human and beast, to Myself, to be Mine, יהוה’s.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Numbers|3:12-13|HE}}</ref>}}

According to the traditional rabbinic interpretation, even before the Exodus the priestly duties were reserved for the oldest son in each family.<ref>Bereishis Rabbah 63:13; Zevachim 112; Bechoros 4; {{Alhatorah|Genesis|25:31|Rashi}}</ref>

The priesthood was given specifically to the [[kohanim]] ([[Aaron]] and his descendants), and at the same time, it was instituted that the firstborn should be redeemed. The replacement of firstborns with Levites occurred following the [[golden calf]] episode;<ref>{{Bibleverse|Deuteronomy|10:8|HE}}</ref> during that episode the Levites remained loyal to God.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Exodus|32:26|HE}}</ref>

==Laws==
The ''[[Shulchan Aruch]]'' states that when a Jewish woman gives birth to a firstborn male by natural means (i.e. a boy born vaginally and not by [[Caesarean section]]) then the child must be "redeemed".<ref name=ReferenceA>''[[Shulchan Aruch]]'' ''[[Yoreh De'ah]]'' 305:1</ref> The father<ref>
''[[Shulchan Aruch]]'' ''[[Yoreh De'ah]]'' 305:2</ref> of the child must "redeem" the child from a known [[kohen]]<ref>''[[Shulchan Aruch]]'' ''[[Yoreh De'ah]]'' 305:3</ref> representing the original [[Solomon's Temple|Temple]] priesthood, for the sum of five silver [[shekels]],<ref name=ReferenceA/> or equivalent in another nation's currency (if it has silver currency of the correct weight).

This redemption ceremony is performed when at least thirty days have passed since the child's birth. If the 31st day falls on [[Shabbat]] or a [[Jewish holiday|festival]], the redemption is delayed, because any sort of business transaction is not allowed on those days.<ref>''[[Shulchan Aruch]]'' ''[[Yoreh De'ah]]'' 305:11</ref> The elapsed days are counted from sunset to sunset, and the day of birth counts as the first day. While the redemption could be performed immediately after dark on the 31st&nbsp;night, it is usually done the next day; but if the 31st&nbsp;day is a [[Ta'anit|fast day]], it is done the previous night, so that it can be accompanied by a festive meal.<ref>Shach 305:12</ref> It is also possible to hold the ceremony on the 30th&nbsp;day itself, if it will be impossible to perform it the next day, so long as at least one [[synodic month]] has passed since the moment of birth.<ref>Shach 305:19, at the end, citing the Bach.</ref>

If a first-born son reaches ''[[bar mitzvah]]'' age without having been redeemed, he is responsible for arranging the mitzvah himself as soon as possible.<ref>Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 301:15</ref>

===Exemptions===
Redemption is required for "the first to exit the womb" ({{Bibleverse|Exodus|13:2|HE}}) so it is not performed if a daughter is born first. If a woman gives birth to a second son vaginally when the first son was born by caesarean section, that child is not redeemed either.<ref>''[[Shulchan Aruch]]'' ''[[Yoreh De'ah]]'' 305:24</ref> Also, a first-born male does not require redemption if his birth was preceded by an earlier miscarriage by the mother that occurred after the third month of pregnancy. However, if the miscarriage occurred during the first 40&nbsp;days of pregnancy, redemption is required. If the previous miscarriage occurred after forty days, but before the fetus developed distinguishing characteristics, redemption of the first-born is still required, but the blessing said by the father is omitted.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Donin | first = Hayim Halevy
 | year = 1972
 | title = To be a Jew
 | publisher = Basic Books
 | isbn = 0-465-08624-1
 | pages = 277
 | url = https://archive.org/details/tobejewguideto00doni
 | url-access = registration}}</ref>

The procedure does not apply when the father is a [[kohen]] or [[Levite]], and does not normally apply when the mother is the daughter of one.<ref>''[[Shulkhan Arukh]]'' ''[[Yoreh De'ah]]'' 305:18</ref> The reason is that the Levites, as substitutes for the first-born, are pledged to minister and assist the ''kohanim'' in divine service, and cannot be redeemed from this service obligation.

The first-born son from a Levite's daughter is not redeemed (whether or not the father is Jewish).<ref>''[[Shulchan Aruch]]'' 305:18</ref> Similarly, the first-born son of a kohen's daughter, as long as the father is Jewish.<ref>If the father is non-Jewish, ''pidyon haben'' is required. Timing may require the boy to await Bar Mitzvah. See ''[[Igros Moshe]]'' Y.D. 195; {{cite periodical
 |title=Torah Tidbits, Parshat Chukat 5762
 |periodical=NCSY Newsletter
 |publisher=Orthodox Union (ou.org)
 |url=http://www.ou.org/torah/tt/5762/chukat62/pp.htm
 |access-date=17 March 2018
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606064308/http://www.ou.org/torah/tt/5762/chukat62/pp.htm
 |archive-date=6 June 2011
}}</ref>

===Bat Kohen===
Some sources state that a [[bat kohen]] (daughter of a priest) may accept ''pidyon haben'' money, just as a priest may, but this option is not accepted in practice.<ref>
{{cite web
 |title=Midreshet lindenbaum, bnot kohanim: Our holy daughters
 |url=http://www.lind.org.il/features/bnotkohanim_v24.htm
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118061402/http://www.lind.org.il/features/bnotkohanim_v24.htm
 |archive-date=2009-01-18
}}; see also a lengthy [[Responsa|responsum]] on the topic by [[Joseph Saul Nathanson]]
</ref>

==Ceremony==
[[File:Presentation of the first-born, 1724, from Juedisches Ceremoniel.jpg|220px|right|thumb|''Redemption of the First-born'' (1724), from ''Juedisches Ceremoniel'']]
In the traditional ceremony, the father brings the child to the kohen and recites a formula, or responds to ritual questions, indicating that this is the Israelite mother's firstborn son and he has come to redeem him as commanded in the Torah. If the family is [[Sephardi Jews|Sephardic]], the kohen asks the mother if the child is indeed her firstborn son and if she did not miscarry in the past. The kohen asks the father which he would rather have, the child or the five silver [[shekel]]s which he must pay. The father states that he prefers the child to the money, then he recites a blessing and hands over five silver coins (or an equivalent amount of total silver). The kohen holds the coins over the child and declares that the redemption price is received and accepted in place of the child. He then blesses the child. (Note: The kohen would not receive the child if the father refused to redeem the boy. The function of the question is merely to formally endear the mitzvah to the father.<ref>{{cite book
 |title=Siddur Nachlas Shimon
 |series=The Artscroll Weekday Siddur
 |year=1997
 |publisher=Mesorah Publications
 |isbn=0899066682
 |page=220
}}</ref>)

The ceremony traditionally takes place before a [[minyan]] of 10&nbsp;men. The child is sometimes presented on a silver tray, surrounded by jewelry lent for the occasion by women in attendance. This is to contrast with the [[golden calf]], when gold and jewelry was used for a sinful purpose.<ref>{{cite web
 |title=What are some customs observed at a ''pidyon haben''?
 |series=Life cycle pidyon haben mitzvot
 |website=askmoses.com
 |url=http://www.askmoses.com/en/article/197,2068468/What-are-some-customs-observed-at-a-Pidyon-Haben.html
 |access-date=17 March 2018
}}</ref>

The event starts by beginning a [[se'udath mitzvah|festive meal]] (unlike a ''[[brit milah]]'' or [[Jewish wedding|wedding]] where the meal comes after the ceremony).<ref>{{cite web
 |title=The Halachos of Pidyon Haben
 |website=Rabbi Kaganoff (rabbikaganoff.com)
 |url=http://rabbikaganoff.com/archives/251
 |access-date=2014-05-05 |url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505212509/http://rabbikaganoff.com/archives/251
 |archive-date=2014-05-05
}}</ref> If the family is Sephardic, the event starts with the ceremony. Guests in some places are given cloves of garlic and cubes of sugar to take home: these strongly flavored foods can be used to flavor a large quantity of food which will in some sense extend the mitzvah of participation in the ceremony to all who eat them.

==Coins==
[[File:Pidjon Ha Ben Coin.jpg|thumb|Pidyon haben coin from Israel, 1974. In the collection of the [[Jewish Museum of Switzerland]]. Such coins are offered in sets of 5 by the [[Bank of Israel]].  ]]
Contemporary religious authorities believe that the ''Shekel HaKodesh'' (Holy Shekel) of the Temple was larger and of purer silver content than the standard [[shekel]] used for trade in ancient Israel. [[Halakha]] requires that the coins used have a requisite total amount of actual silver. There are varying opinions as to the correct amount of silver, they fall in between 96.15&nbsp;grams and 102&nbsp;grams. Coins which do not contain the requisite amount of silver do not result in a valid redemption.

The Israeli Mint has minted two sets of coins for this purpose: an edition of 20.57&nbsp;gram silver commemorative coins, five of which would come to 102&nbsp;grams of silver,<ref>
{{cite web
 |title=Pidyon Haben
 |date=6 July 2020
 |website=israelmint.com
 |url=https://en.israelmint.com/default/72050340.html
 |access-date=6 July 2020
}}
</ref>
and a special edition 26&nbsp;gram silver commemorative coins, five of which would come to 130&nbsp;grams of silver.<ref>
{{cite web
 |title = Pidyon Haben medals set
 |website=israelmint.com
 |url=https://en.israelmint.com/default/72050370.html
}}
</ref> Pre-1936 American [[Dollar (United States coin)|silver dollars]] (commonly known as [[Morgan dollar]]s or [[Peace dollar]]s) weigh 26.73&nbsp;grams of 90% silver content and hence contain 24.06g of pure silver, although such coins have become increasingly rare (modern U.S. coins contain no silver). Four [[American Silver Eagle]] coins, specially minted coins sold to collectors and investors which contain 31.1035&nbsp;grams of 99.9% pure silver, or five of the above-mentioned specially minted silver coins of Israel are commonly used for ''pidyon haben'' in the United States. One may use [[silver bullion]] as well; it is not necessary for it to be a coin per se.

Moreover, it is not mandatory to redeem the son in silver coins, and the ceremony can be held using any movable object worth the same value as five silver coins in the same day, other than [[promissory notes]], which is not acceptable for the ceremony.<ref>
{{cite web
 |title=Shulchan Arukh
 |date=6 July 2020
 |website=sefaria.org.il
 |url=https://www.sefaria.org.il/Shulchan_Arukh%2C_Yoreh_De'ah.305?lang=en
 |access-date=6 July 2020
}}
</ref> Later halachic authorities discuss whether [[paper money]] is included in promissory notes;<ref>See Aruch Hashulchan YD 305:18.</ref> according to the stringent approach, it is possible that modern coins, which are [[fiat money]] not valued according to their metal value, would be the same as paper money.

Although the silver coins are the payment to the kohen according to the [[613 commandments]] and are one of the [[twenty-four priestly gifts]], they are sometimes returned by the kohen to the family as a gift for the child, although halachic authorities stipulate that, for the ''pidyon'' to be valid, the choice of returning the coins as a gift rests {{em|entirely}} upon the kohen whereas pressuring the kohen to do so would render the redemption invalid.<ref>Responsa "[[Chsam Sofer]]", to Yoreh Deah, Chap. 291</ref>

===''Pidyon'' certificate===
Some kohens officiating for the ''pidyon'' ceremony will present the father with a "''Pidyon HaBen'' certificate" of the ''pidyon'' transaction, the certificate will usually be framed for display and may serve as a receipt (and evidence) that the transaction was done according to [[halacha]] (i.e. the kohen was not pressured to return the coins), with the kohen and two witnesses ("[[Eidim]]") affixing their signatures at the time of the ceremony.

==See also==
* [[Fast of the Firstborn]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
==Bibliography==
* {{cite book | last=Levenson | first=Jon D. | title=The Death and Resurrection of the Beloved Son | publisher=Yale University Press | publication-place=New Haven | date=1993-01-01 | isbn=0-300-06511-6}}


==External links==
{{Commons category|Pidyon haben}}
* {{cite web
 |title=The redemption of first-born
 |series=Customs for Pidyon HaBen
 |website=chabad.org
 |url=http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/652310/jewish/Pidyon-Haben.htm
}}
* {{cite news
 |first=Reuvena Leah |last=Grodnitzky
 |date=7 March 2008 
 |title=Three Brazilian men participate in ancient practice typically reserved for infants
 |website=chabad.org
 |url=http://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/647822/jewish/Never-Too-Old-for-Redemption.htm
}}
* {{cite web
 |title=Assorted Halachos
 |series=The Mitzvah of Pidyon Haben
 |url=https://www.ou.org/torah/halacha/practical-halacha/the-mitzvah-of-pidyon-haben-assorted-halachos
}}
* {{cite web
 |title=Mitzvat Padion Haben
 |website=The Jewish tradition
 |url=https://yahadut.org/en/family/family-lifecycle-mitzvot/introduction-to-pidyon-ha-ben/
}}
* {{cite web
 |title=Calculator for five coins' rate
 |website=MyPidyon.co.il
 |url=https://naftalysite.wixsite.com/naftaly/pidyon-calculator
 |quote=updated automatically
}}

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