ment of Christian wet nurses by Jews was widespread. This practice is also at-
tested to in charters given to the Jews, in which it is clearly stated that Jews may
employ non-Jewish wet nurses.^90 The practice was clearly forbidden in the
edicts issued by Alexander III in 1179, which stated that Jews and Muslims
could not own (Christian) slaves or servants in their homes in order to nurse
their children, serve them, or for any other purpose. The bull stated that any
Christian living in a Jewish home would be excommunicated.^91 The reason
for forbidding Christians to live in Jewish homes is clearly stated:
And we command... and forbid the tending of Jewish children by [Christian]
midwives and wet nurses in their [the Jews] homes. For the customs of the Jews
and ours are completely dissimilar, and [motivated by their hatred for the human
race], they may easily influence the simple souls to come to their faith and heresy
through extended contact and familiarity.^92
Jewish sources also point to the common practice of employing Christian
wet nurses in Jewish homes.^93 Most authors do not feel the need to justify the
presence of a Christian woman in the house, and she is simply mentioned
when relevant. These references manifest a major difference between the
Christian sources that discuss Christian wet nurses who work for Jews and the
Jewish sources on this issue. While the Christian sources forbid this practice
completely,^94 the Jewish sources are more matter-of-fact about the practice,
and only a small number of sources voice any opposition to it.
A source from Sefer H·asidim that discusses this practice illustrates the gen-
eral approach to employing Christian wet nurses and the fears Jews had in this
context:
A man had two non-Jewish wet nurses in his home and they were at strife.^95 Peo-
ple said to him, “Why are you creating arguments in your home?” He said: “If
they live in harmony, perhaps they will steal from me. But now each one fears the
other.” They said to him, “About you it is said: ‘So that you do not bring blood-
guilt on your house’ (Deut. 22:8), and it is written: ‘And do not rely on your own
understanding’ (Prov. 3:5), since your [actions] cause that one might kill the in-
fant that the other wet nurse is nursing or the other the child of the first wet
nurse.”^96This story documents the presence of non-Jewish wet nurses in Jewish homes.
Although the sources mention the fear that the wet nurses would kill their
charges, this fear stems from the animosity between the two wet nurses, rather
than from hostility related to Jewish-Christian relations. The advice to the pro-
tagonist of the story is that the H·asid should not cause disharmony in his own
household, not that he should not employ non-Jewish wet nurses.
Other cautions against employing Christian wet nurses discuss specific is-
sues, but do not forbid or censure the actual practice of their employment.
Sefer H·asidim mentions the possible dangers of having a Jewish child hear a