Question: My father died last month.  My daughter is pregnant with her first child and I would not allow her to attend the funeral.  It was my understanding that Jewish lore forbid pregnant women on the cemetery.  I am now being criticized for my actions by many citizens.  They state that they never heard that before, yet my family has always observed that.  Was I wrong in not letting her attend?

Answer: Thank you for your question. I’m sorry to take in about the loss of your mother. May G-d comfort you and your family among all other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Although there is no law that a pregnant woman may

not attend a funeral service or visit a cemetery, there are various customs regarding that matter.  Unless you have a specific familial or communal custom not to go, there is no reason to refrain from doing so.  Interestingly, as a kohen is not permitted to enter a cemetery, I have seen it stated that the wife of a kohen should not enter a cemetery during her ninth month of pregnancy whether there is a possibility that the child is a male.

Some have a custom that women do not go to a cemetery at all, but that is not too widespread

Take care,

Rabbi Aaron Tendler

Original post by ATR