Regarding the indentation above the upper lip

Greetings,

Indeed, it is brought in Tractate Niddah (folio 30b) that the fetus in its mother's womb is taught the entire Torah. And when it comes into the air of the world, an angel comes and strikes it on the mouth and causes it to forget the entire Torah. See there. But it is not written there that the indentation that human beings have above the lips is a result of that strike by the angel.

And ostensibly there is proof that there is no connection between the matters, since girls also have an indentation above the lips, even though it does not seem likely that they study Torah in their mothers' wombs, since they are exempt from Torah study. And likewise non-Jews also have this indentation, even though Torah study does not apply to them.

However, this can be challenged, since the angel also teaches women the halachot that apply to them (see Rav A. L. Shteinman in the book Ayelet HaShachar, Genesis 25:22, and may he be distinguished for life, Rav Chaim Kanievsky in the book Leveni Binyamin Amar, page 98). And perhaps he also teaches the non-Jews the seven Noahide laws.

However, in truth there is proof that there is no connection between the matters, since one can see in ultrasound images of fetuses in the third month that even then they already have an indentation above the lips, so this indentation is formed even before the angel comes to strike the baby after he emerges into the air of the world. And see further in the words of Rav Y. Ratzabi, may he be distinguished for life, in the collection Shaarei Yitzchak, Tevet-Adar 5770 (pages 138-139).

With blessings,

Hillel Meirs