The Palestinian Talmud on Midwifery and Wet-Nursing

Hebrew

A Jewish woman should not assist a non-Jewish woman at a birth [as midwife]—because she helps to rear a son for non-Jewish worship. But a non-Jewish woman may assist a Jewish woman at birth [as a midwife].

However, [elsewhere] it has been taught: She [the non-Jewish woman] assists at birth [only] from outside [the body], but not from inside [the body].

[An explanation:] She shall not put her hand into her [the woman giving birth], so that she does not crush the embryo in her womb. And she shall not let her drink a cup of roots.

But what if she [the non-Jewish woman] has expert knowledge? This corresponds to what R. Jacob bar Aḥa said in the name of R. Yoḥanan: If the [non-Jewish] physician is trustworthy and skilled, it is permissible [for a Jew to be healed]. The same [applies to a non-Jewish woman]: If she has expert knowledge, [her medical assistance is] allowed.

A Jewish woman shall not nurse a child of a non-Jewish woman—since she gives it life. R. Yosi said: Someone has also said that it is forbidden to teach expertise, as in this [instance]: Two [groups of] artisans existed in Giro [Gido; var., Akko]—glassmakers and amulet makers. The glassmakers did not teach [their craft], and they persisted. The amulet makers did teach [their craft], and they were ruined.

But a non-Jewish woman may nurse the child of a Jewish woman—since it is written: Kings will be your foster fathers and their princesses your nursing mothers. [They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground; they will lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed] (Isaiah 49:23).

It has been taught: A [Jewish] infant may be nursed by a non-Jewish-woman or by a non-kosher beast; one brings milk for the child from any place and should not be concerned either with abomination or with [ritual] impurity.