Having Children: Difference between revisions
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# Technically, only men are obligated in this mitzvah.<ref>Yevamot 65b, Sefer HaChinuch (no. 1), Rambam (Ishut 15:2), Shulchan Aruch 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. Meshech Chachma (Beresheet 9:7) suggests that the reason the Torah exempted women is because having children is dangerous and the Torah wouldn't obligate them to put themselves in danger.</ref> Nonetheless, women who do have children do fulfill a mitzvah in aiding her husband to have children.<ref>Ran (Kiddushin 16b)</ref> Additionally, some say that women are obligated to have children in order to ensure that the world is populated.<ref>Tosfot Bava Batra 13a s.v. Sheneemar implies that women are obligated in the mitzvah of "לא תהו בראה לשבת יצרה". Levush YD 249:15 codifies this. See this [http://98.131.138.124/articles/tora/subject1.asp article by the Schlesinger Institute] for more sources.</ref> | # Technically, only men are obligated in this mitzvah.<ref>Yevamot 65b, Sefer HaChinuch (no. 1), Rambam (Ishut 15:2), Shulchan Aruch 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. Meshech Chachma (Beresheet 9:7) suggests that the reason the Torah exempted women is because having children is dangerous and the Torah wouldn't obligate them to put themselves in danger.</ref> Nonetheless, women who do have children do fulfill a mitzvah in aiding her husband to have children.<ref>Ran (Kiddushin 16b)</ref> Additionally, some say that women are obligated to have children in order to ensure that the world is populated.<ref>Tosfot Bava Batra 13a s.v. Sheneemar implies that women are obligated in the mitzvah of "לא תהו בראה לשבת יצרה". Levush YD 249:15 codifies this. See this [http://98.131.138.124/articles/tora/subject1.asp article by the Schlesinger Institute] for more sources.</ref> | ||
# A person fulfills his obligation once he has two children, one son and one daughter.<ref>Yevamot 61b, Rambam (Ishut 15:4), Shulchan Aruch EH 1:5</ref> | # A person fulfills his obligation once he has two children, one son and one daughter.<ref>Yevamot 61b, Rambam (Ishut 15:4), Shulchan Aruch EH 1:5</ref> | ||
# 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. Tosfot Bava Batra 60b s.v. din writes that if everyone would only have one son and one daughter, the Jewish nation would cease to exist. </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> | # 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. Tosfot Bava Batra 60b s.v. din writes that if everyone would only have one son and one daughter, the Jewish nation would cease to exist. </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> | ||
==Pregnancy== | ==Pregnancy== | ||
# Some say that it is a segula for a woman to have an easy labor if her husband opens the aron kodesh during her 9th month. <ref> The Chida Avodas HaKodesh; Moreh B'etzba 3:4 </ref> | # Some say that it is a segula for a woman to have an easy labor if her husband opens the aron kodesh during her 9th month.<ref> The Chida Avodas HaKodesh; Moreh B'etzba 3:4 </ref> | ||
==Related Topics== | ==Related Topics== | ||
