Family Life: Family Planning
The
Torah commands us to be fruitful and multiply. As long as a family
plans to have even one child they have fulfill their obligation to this
Mitzvah. Some commentators feel that one must have a son and a daughter
before one is considered to have fulfilled this obligation.
However, Jewish
tradition has always encouraged large families. Every child is the
equivalent of an entire universe. One should therefore explore all
possibilities before opting for a planned family.
Couples who
experience difficulties with child rearing for any number of reasons,
including emotional complications, danger to the mother, etc., must
seek guidance from a qualified rabbi before engaging in birth control.
Please note that
only selected forms of birth control meet with Halachick approval, a
competent rabbi must therefore be consulted.
