shabbat 136

male or female
dead or alive

some things exist in the grey space in-between.

(this page discusses if transgender is considered male for circumcision but not male for other issues. and if a baby who dies before 30 days could have considered to have lived, or are they like a stillborn. for english translation of this talmud page, see here)

shabbat 134

who knows best?

Abaye learns from his mother how to care for a newborn.
whereas, R. Natan instructs mothers who come to him for guidance.

who is the expert?

(this page has a few instances of caring for a newborn. specifically around circumcision, and more generally. Abaye lists various things he learnt from his mother about caring for a newborn, including when to delay circumcision. R. Natan speaks of 2 instances where he advises to delay, the mother is nervous about circumcising her son as she has 2 other children who have died. The connection between mother and child does not always mean mother knows best. it depends on what the mother has been through... this drawing is based on the first photo of me holding my own newborn babe... I'm not sure I knew best.. for english translation of this talmud page, see here)