Having Children: Difference between revisions

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==General==
==General==
# Technically, only men are obligated in this mitzvah.<ref>Yevamot 65b, Sefer HaChinuch (no. 1),  Rambam (Ishut 15:2), S"A EH 1:1</ref>  
# The mitzvah is to endeavor to have children according to his ability.<ref>The language of the Gemara Shabbat 31a in heaven a person will be asked whether he "involved" himself in Pru Urevu and not whether he actually fulfilled the mitzvah. Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe EH 2:18) writes that the actual mitzvah for men is to have relations with his wife in order to have children. However, when his wife actually gives birth to children, that isn't this mitzvah but an exemption of the mitzvah. The Minchat Chinuch (no. 1, s.v. VeIm Adam), however, assumes that having the children is the actual fulfillment of the mitzvah. Rav Soloveitchik quoted by Rav Schachter in a [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/768367/Rabbi_Hershel_Schachter/Shiur_#47_-_Yevamos_-_מי_שחציו_עבד_וחציו_בן_חורין,_עשה_דוחה_לא_תעשה shiur (Yevamot 47) on yutorah.org] had a compromise opinion in which a person fulfills the action of the mitzvah (maaseh ha'mitzvah) with relations and fulfills the completion of the mitzvah (kiyum ha'mitzvah) when his wife actually gives birth to children.</ref>
# Technically, only men are obligated in this mitzvah.<ref>Yevamot 65b, Sefer HaChinuch (no. 1),  Rambam (Ishut 15:2), S"A EH 1:1. The Mishna (Yevamot 65b) states that women are exempt from this mitzvah because the end of the pasuk states that people should conquer the world and that isn't the tendency of women. </ref>  
# A person fulfills his obligation once he has two children, one male and one female.<ref>Yevamot 61b, Rambam (Ishut 15:4), S"A EH 1:5</ref>  
# A person fulfills his obligation once he has two children, one male and one female.<ref>Yevamot 61b, Rambam (Ishut 15:4), S"A EH 1:5</ref>  
# Nonetheless, continuing to have more children is also an important mitzvah.<ref>Rabbi Yehoshua in Yevamot 62b states that if one had children when he is younger he should continue to try to have children when he is older because one never knows the outcome of his children. The Rambam (Ishut 15:16) writes that even though already fulfilled his mitzvah of having children, he has a derabbanan mitzvah to have more children and if he does it is as though he built an entire world. [http://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/7845 Rabbi Melamed] adds that there is a mitzvah of VeHalachta Bedrachav to have more children.</ref> Nonetheless, it is important to take into account other values and concerns. <ref>[http://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/7845 Rabbi Melamed] explains that it is important to weigh one's decision carefully. For example, he says, if a person knows that if he has more than eight children they will have a lot of stress, frustration, and difficulty, then it is likely advisable not to continue to fulfill this mitzvah if it will cause one to sin and negatively impact the [[Chinuch]] of the children.</ref>
# Nonetheless, continuing to have more children is also an important mitzvah.<ref>Rabbi Yehoshua in Yevamot 62b states that if one had children when he is younger he should continue to try to have children when he is older because one never knows the outcome of his children. The Rambam (Ishut 15:16) writes that even though already fulfilled his mitzvah of having children, he has a derabbanan mitzvah to have more children and if he does it is as though he built an entire world. [http://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/7845 Rabbi Melamed] adds that there is a mitzvah of VeHalachta Bedrachav to have more children.</ref> Nonetheless, it is important to take into account other values and concerns. <ref>[http://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/7845 Rabbi Melamed] explains that it is important to weigh one's decision carefully. For example, he says, if a person knows that if he has more than eight children they will have a lot of stress, frustration, and difficulty, then it is likely advisable not to continue to fulfill this mitzvah if it will cause one to sin and negatively impact the [[Chinuch]] of the children.</ref>
==Age==
The mishna in pirkei avot 5 states that a person should endeavor to get married at 18. The Rambam interestingly deviates from the mishna and writes that a person should endeavor to get married at 17. The Mishna Halachot explains that in fact the Rambam agrees with the Mishna but understands that it takes a year to find a suitable spouse and get married; at 17, he should be involved in finding a spouse and at 18 get married. The Gemara Kiddushin 30a emphatically states that a person may not delay beyond 20 before getting married. This is codified by the Rambam and S"A. Nonetheless, it is important to note that the Bet Shmuel states that a person is technically obligated to get married at 13 when he becomes a Bar-Mitzvah. Why, then, does the mishna say he should get married at 18? He answers that until then he isn't completely mature and ready to get married.
# A person can delay getting married in order to learn Torah.


==Related Topics==
==Related Topics==

Revision as of 16:48, 19 October 2014

There is a positive mitzvah to bring children into the world and raise them to be proper Jews.[1] A possible reason behind this mitzvah is that Hashem didn't want the world to be empty.[2] Additionally, it is also the doorway to all mitzvot because only living people can fulfill mitzvot and the Torah was given to man and not the angels.[3]

General

  1. The mitzvah is to endeavor to have children according to his ability.[4]
  2. Technically, only men are obligated in this mitzvah.[5]
  3. A person fulfills his obligation once he has two children, one male and one female.[6]
  4. Nonetheless, continuing to have more children is also an important mitzvah.[7] Nonetheless, it is important to take into account other values and concerns. [8]

Age

The mishna in pirkei avot 5 states that a person should endeavor to get married at 18. The Rambam interestingly deviates from the mishna and writes that a person should endeavor to get married at 17. The Mishna Halachot explains that in fact the Rambam agrees with the Mishna but understands that it takes a year to find a suitable spouse and get married; at 17, he should be involved in finding a spouse and at 18 get married. The Gemara Kiddushin 30a emphatically states that a person may not delay beyond 20 before getting married. This is codified by the Rambam and S"A. Nonetheless, it is important to note that the Bet Shmuel states that a person is technically obligated to get married at 13 when he becomes a Bar-Mitzvah. Why, then, does the mishna say he should get married at 18? He answers that until then he isn't completely mature and ready to get married.

  1. A person can delay getting married in order to learn Torah.

Related Topics

Sources

  1. ↑ Rambam (Asin), Sefer HaChinuch (no. 1)
  2. ↑ Yishayahu 45:18, Sefer HaChinuch (no. 1)
  3. ↑ Sefer HaChinuch (no. 1)
  4. ↑ The language of the Gemara Shabbat 31a in heaven a person will be asked whether he "involved" himself in Pru Urevu and not whether he actually fulfilled the mitzvah. Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe EH 2:18) writes that the actual mitzvah for men is to have relations with his wife in order to have children. However, when his wife actually gives birth to children, that isn't this mitzvah but an exemption of the mitzvah. The Minchat Chinuch (no. 1, s.v. VeIm Adam), however, assumes that having the children is the actual fulfillment of the mitzvah. Rav Soloveitchik quoted by Rav Schachter in a shiur (Yevamot 47) on yutorah.org had a compromise opinion in which a person fulfills the action of the mitzvah (maaseh ha'mitzvah) with relations and fulfills the completion of the mitzvah (kiyum ha'mitzvah) when his wife actually gives birth to children.
  5. ↑ Yevamot 65b, Sefer HaChinuch (no. 1), Rambam (Ishut 15:2), S"A EH 1:1. The Mishna (Yevamot 65b) states that women are exempt from this mitzvah because the end of the pasuk states that people should conquer the world and that isn't the tendency of women.
  6. ↑ Yevamot 61b, Rambam (Ishut 15:4), S"A EH 1:5
  7. ↑ Rabbi Yehoshua in Yevamot 62b states that if one had children when he is younger he should continue to try to have children when he is older because one never knows the outcome of his children. The Rambam (Ishut 15:16) writes that even though already fulfilled his mitzvah of having children, he has a derabbanan mitzvah to have more children and if he does it is as though he built an entire world. Rabbi Melamed adds that there is a mitzvah of VeHalachta Bedrachav to have more children.
  8. ↑ Rabbi Melamed explains that it is important to weigh one's decision carefully. For example, he says, if a person knows that if he has more than eight children they will have a lot of stress, frustration, and difficulty, then it is likely advisable not to continue to fulfill this mitzvah if it will cause one to sin and negatively impact the Chinuch of the children.
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