עברית
Women
Is It Necessary to Bury the Umbilical Cord?
Question
Hello, I heard that one must bury the part of the umbilical cord that remains attached to the baby and falls off after a few days. Is this true, and what is the significance of this? I kept it in a bag in the closet and forgot about it. Does this have any implications? (Could it cause harm?) Thank you.
Answer
Hello, Some have the custom to bury the umbilical cord; however, fundamentally, there is no obligation to do so, and it is permitted to dispose of it with the trash. References can be found similarly in the book Gesher HaChaim, part one (chapter 16, paragraph 3, note 3), in the responsa Minchat Yitzchak, part 7 (chapter 112), and in the responsa Tzitz Eliezer, part 10 (chapter 25, section 8, note 9). Blessings, Hillel Meirs
