POST-BIRTH BEHAVIOR

A quick note regarding Aaron Leibel’s book review, “Feminist novel on Brooklyn Jewry” (Sept. 23). Leibel quotes the character Nathan thinking: “Did the ancient rabbis really believe that... a man would jump into bed with his wife immediately after she had given birth?” Sadly, this does in fact occur.

Around 60 years ago, in the days when women spent two weeks in hospital following delivery, my mother, z”l, in hospital after birthing one of us, had a roommate whose husband did indeed climb into bed with her and attempt to force himself on her. The hospital staff had to forcibly remove him from the premises. His attitude: she was his wife and he had needs. He was prohibited from returning during her stay.

ALIZA AZIZ Zichron Ya’acov