Q. Shalom Rabenu. A couple that has been married for years and has not been able to have children wants to know if they should comply with the mitzva of Shiluach Haken, as they heard that it is a Segula or help to conceive?
A. Shiluach Haken is the uncommon mitzva of sending away the mother bird before taking her young or eggs. As the Torah dictates: “If a bird’s nest happens to be before you…young birds or eggs, and the mother is roosting…you shall not take the mother with the young. You shall surely send away the mother and take the young for yourself, so that it will be good for you and will prolong your days.” (Devarim 22: 6-7.)
On a similar question 616 we wrote: “Indeed the Midrash Rabbah (Ki Tetze 6) and Yalkut Shimoni (630) quoted also in Chinuch (545) mention that the reward for performing this mitzvah is: “And you may take the young for yourself” (Devarim 23: 7) or having children.
However, Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that it may be better to use Tefilos and other merit acts that don’t involve Tzaar Baal Chaim or causing pain to an animal
.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a
Important Numbers
