Jewish infant mortality has been calculated wrongly because of a Hebrew term.

What is it about?

In Hebrew burial books before 1811 the term nefel is used. We found that this term had not been used correctly when infant mortality among Jews was calculated. The term was used as meaning miscarriage. It includes also babies who died within 30 days after birth. As a result a major part of infant mortality was included in the miscarriages, causing an underestimate of Jewish infant mortality.

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Why is it important?

It is important to know because it shows that Jewish infant mortality differed less from non-Jewish infant mortality than had been assumed.