Editing Pidyon haben (section)

==Laws==
The ''[[Shulchan Aruch]]'' states that when a Jewish woman gives birth to a firstborn male by natural means (i.e. a boy born vaginally and not by [[Caesarean section]]) then the child must be "redeemed".<ref name=ReferenceA>''[[Shulchan Aruch]]'' ''[[Yoreh De'ah]]'' 305:1</ref> The father<ref>
''[[Shulchan Aruch]]'' ''[[Yoreh De'ah]]'' 305:2</ref> of the child must "redeem" the child from a known [[kohen]]<ref>''[[Shulchan Aruch]]'' ''[[Yoreh De'ah]]'' 305:3</ref> representing the original [[Solomon's Temple|Temple]] priesthood, for the sum of five silver [[shekels]],<ref name=ReferenceA/> or equivalent in  country's currency (if it has silver currency of the correct weight).

This redemption ceremony is performed when at least thirty days have passed since the child's birth. If the 31st day falls on [[Shabbat]] or a [[Jewish holiday|festival]], the redemption is delayed, because any sort of business transaction is not allowed on those days.<ref>''[[Shulchan Aruch]]'' ''[[Yoreh De'ah]]'' 305:11</ref> The elapsed days are counted from sunset to sunset, and the day of birth counts as the first day. While the redemption could be performed immediately after dark on the 31st&nbsp;night, it is usually done the next day; but if the 31st&nbsp;day is a [[Ta'anit|fast day]], it is done the previous night, so that it can be accompanied by a festive meal.<ref>Shach 305:12</ref> It is also possible to hold the ceremony on the 30th&nbsp;day itself, if it will be impossible to perform it the next day, so long as at least one [[synodic month]] has passed since the moment of birth.<ref>Shach 305:19, at the end, citing the Bach.</ref>

If a first-born son reaches ''[[bar mitzvah]]'' age without having been redeemed, he is responsible for arranging the mitzvah himself as soon as possible.<ref>Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 301:15</ref>

===Exemptions===
Redemption is required for "the first to exit the womb" ({{Bibleverse|Exodus|13:2|HE}}) so it is not performed if a daughter is born first. If a woman gives birth to a second son vaginally when the first son was born by caesarean section, that child is not redeemed either.<ref>''[[Shulchan Aruch]]'' ''[[Yoreh De'ah]]'' 305:24</ref> Also, a first-born male does not require redemption if his birth was preceded by an earlier miscarriage by the mother that occurred after the third month of pregnancy. However, if the miscarriage occurred during the first 40&nbsp;days of pregnancy, redemption is required. If the previous miscarriage occurred after forty days, but before the fetus developed distinguishing characteristics, redemption of the first-born is still required, but the blessing said by the father is omitted.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Donin | first = Hayim Halevy
 | year = 1972
 | title = To be a Jew
 | publisher = Basic Books
 | isbn = 0-465-08624-1
 | pages = 277
 | url = https://archive.org/details/tobejewguideto00doni
 | url-access = registration}}</ref>

The procedure does not apply when the father is a [[kohen]] or [[Levite]], and does not normally apply when the mother is the daughter of one.<ref>''[[Shulkhan Arukh]]'' ''[[Yoreh De'ah]]'' 305:18</ref> The reason is that the Levites, as substitutes for the first-born, are pledged to minister and assist the ''kohanim'' in divine service, and cannot be redeemed from this service obligation.

The first-born son from a Levite's daughter is not redeemed (whether or not the father is Jewish).<ref>''[[Shulchan Aruch]]'' 305:18</ref> Similarly, the first-born son of a kohen's daughter, as long as the father is Jewish.<ref>If the father is non-Jewish, ''pidyon haben'' is required. Timing may require the boy to await Bar Mitzvah. See ''[[Igros Moshe]]'' Y.D. 195; {{cite periodical
 |title=Torah Tidbits, Parshat Chukat 5762
 |periodical=NCSY Newsletter
 |publisher=Orthodox Union (ou.org)
 |url=http://www.ou.org/torah/tt/5762/chukat62/pp.htm
 |access-date=17 March 2018
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606064308/http://www.ou.org/torah/tt/5762/chukat62/pp.htm
 |archive-date=6 June 2011
}}</ref>

===Bat Kohen===
Some sources state that a [[bat kohen]] (daughter of a priest) may accept ''pidyon haben'' money, just as a priest may, but this option is not accepted in practice.<ref>
{{cite web
 |title=Midreshet lindenbaum, bnot kohanim: Our holy daughters
 |url=http://www.lind.org.il/features/bnotkohanim_v24.htm
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118061402/http://www.lind.org.il/features/bnotkohanim_v24.htm
 |archive-date=2009-01-18
}}; see also a lengthy [[Responsa|responsum]] on the topic by [[Joseph Saul Nathanson]]
</ref>