Let me start with the disclaimer that I am a Reconstructionist Jew and
my primary familiarity is with the parts of the Bible written prior to
the New Testament. I hope nothing I write below offends anyone.

How was Baby Jesus fed? Of course we can't know for sure how Mary
fed Jesus, but we do know that breastfeeding certainly was the norm
among the poor in the 1st c. BCE in the Land of Israel.

First, was Jesus poor? I will leave that for you with more knowledge of
the New Testament to decide.  From what I know, the family was
unpropertied and urban. THey appear to have been trained craftsmen.  His
knowledge of Torah suggests that he was well educated, esp. because the
Torah was written in Hebrew but the common language was Aramaic, so only
the more educated people were familiar with the law.

Whatever Jesus' personal economic background, among upper class Roman
women there was a huge use of wet nurses (yes, that is still
breastfeeding) and among the slightly lower classes, artificial feeding
was use at times.

Breastfeeding was thought by the ROmans and other urbane people of the
time to adversely affect the mother's figure and upper class women had
busy social schedules.  Since babies weren't welcome at official
functions, the orgies etc, mothers wanted to avoid being tied down.  How
could they keep their husbands from roving if they were stuck at home
with a baby? (Sound familiar?)  (Sad to think that high society wasn't
baby-friendly 2000 years ago...)

Babies were sometimes feed from ceramic jars with thin spouts. (THere
are pictures in various breastfeeding books and you can see them in
museums of ancient history.) THese infant feeders have been found in
infant graves, not surprisingly, since the rate of mortality among these
children was probably quite high.  I have read (but can't quote sources)
about ROman and Greek leaders lecturing women NOT to use wetnurses
(evidence that they did--otherwise why lecture?) and NOT to buy the milk
of other women in the marketplace (evidience that this took place as
well) because, among other things, it could be watered down animal milk.
The Roman, Greek and Hebrew authorities and philosophers clearly took
the view that good mothers breastfed. Still, if the authorities felt the
need to comment,there must have  been mothers who weren't
breastfeeding....

>From at least 4000 BCE. the people in the land of Israel kept goats and
sheep.  Remember that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were shepherds. Both
animals give milk. THe Bible documents that these people had a primarily
milk-based cuisine, so it is likely that they sometimes fed babies, even
young babies, animal milks. THere is also evidence of early introduction
of "paps" (watery milk and cereal mixes) in Rome during this time
period.

Israel was under Roman command and heavily influnced by Roman culture,
so perhaps Jesus did get some bottles --altho I can't imagine Mary
having made one of cloth--which was expensive at the time. Goat skin is
more likely.

Of course I still think a nativity story showing a bottlefed Jesus is a
travesty--the Madonna has been depicted as breastfeeding for two
millenia, as evidence of what a good mother she was.  Maybe you should
suggest to the publisher that the book defames Mary's character.

Warmly-
Judy Gelman
Washington,DC

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