Many Children

Many Children "Wealth is children and grandchildren growing up on the right path."

Until one loses children to death, one cannot begin to appreciate how true this line is. There have been times in the last 18 and 12 years respectively that I would have gladly given up all material possessions and money to restore even one of their lives!

I was born to be a bubbeh - babies and little ones adore me - the deepest regret of my life is that I will never be a bubbeh; although I'm happy when my friends share pictures of their grandchildren, the reality is that it is also painful because it is another reminder of the loss of my beloved daughters.

A couple of posters mentioned the challenges of children - behavior and illness - I have learned the hard way that as long as there is life, there is hope.(My older daughter was very challenging as a teenager, but by the time of her death at age 33, she lived as she had been taught.) Reply

:( We would give anything for our children to follow the right path of G-d :(
2 out of 4 are but 2 aren't. Reply

Where is the Blessing? We are all G_D's children, but where is the Blessing for one family whose Parent,(a Survivor of the Holocaust) living her life with pain just to walk every day, who's children and grandchildren have been stricken with illness. Breast Cancer, Lymphatic Cancer,Bladder Cancer, and Respiratory Ailments. And it continues, a 4 year old great-grandchild with Asthma.

We are a small family and yet it seems the burden of several medical ailments has been bestowed on our family.

This has torn into the binds that hold our family together because the illness brings pain and much sadness.

Where is the Blessing for the Children? Reply

Children The belief that one should have many children is socially irresponsible. Earth is only so big and because so many subscribed to that belief we have over populated it. We aren't leaving room for the beauty of nature that G-d blessed us with.
Aren't we suppose to be caretakers for this world? Couples should have two, maybe three children. If they want more, then adopt. G-d knows there are enough children in this world that are hungry and have nothing. So let's leave room for all G-d's creatures. We are G-d's guest here on earth, shouldn't we be respectful guest? Reply

Many Children Today is only 15th of Tammuz: I get the date from your article, not that I myself am able to tell. I read another rabbi says Tisha B'av comes early this year in Boro Park, Brooklyn and refers to the incidence in the Book of Judges. I hold my tongue in mourning... Reply

Children? Schmildren! Forget children! I'd rather have the silver and gold! Yes, I'd rather have the money. I never married even though I longed, at one time, to be married. I don't have children and I'm glad I don't. I thank G-d every day that I never married!!! I'm estactic no man ever came along. One less worry in my life. No one can call me "Ema" and it does not bother me. You can have your children and your grandchildren. Give me money on top of money. I want money like Bill Gates has money. Selfish? You bet! And I don't feel bad or sad about it either. I wanna be RICH! Don't feel sorry for me. I was asked what I would give to be extremely wealthy as I desire. At the time, I said everything. Now, I would not say that as I am much older(mid-50's). Reply

Many Children Agreed!!!......however just wondering why your post begins with "Until Recently"...... Reply

Jewish Investment Counseling this is another reason i thanks G-d the Rebbe, o.b.m., sent Chabad emmassaries to college campuses, where i had my first experience with Chassidus. the Rebbe's wisdom again protected the investment so many jewish parents made in their children's educations- acting as an investment counselor for the jewish parents' greatest asset: their children! even if the parents themselves didn't realize it at the time! no wonder the secular world looks through secular eyes and views the jewish people as "rich." Baruch HaShem! Reply

The greatest Blessing..... Who wouldn't agree that it more important, fulfilling, enriching etc. to have a home filled with children on the right path. The secular world, the one that I live in has taught me that sacrifices have to be made. I can't have many children because I must raise the ones that I do have to live enriched Jewish lives. I must pay to educate them Jewishly, and I must pay to educate them beyond college and graduate school. I can only have as many children as I can afford. I am therefore a reflection of the modern American culture. I do envy the Chabad life however and know that I wish had had as many children as G-d intended me to have without my intervention. Reply

True but painful... I agree with your statement... but I wonder: What of people who G-d has not blessed with children? Should they be considered destitute?

Having children isn't a "fact of life"--get married, have kids. It is a blessing from G-d Himself. Like a livelihood, having children is directly in G-d's control.

I hope and pray that everyone who needs livelihood and nachas from children receives bountiful blessing from G-d. Reply

Many Children AMEN!!! I tell my husband that all the time. Don't look at the riches of others when you have 19 grandchildren, thank G-d. That is wealth that has an infinite value. We should all be grateful to G-d for children and grandchildren. Money cannot bring you the nachas that children and grandchildren can bring. There is absolutely no comparison. Reply

what is the right path? Just would be curius to know what exactly is the " right path" Reply

Who is really blessed? Who is rich? The rich man is the man who is content with what he has (Pirke Avos 4:1). Contentment is peace. When I've got 2 choose between peace & money I will choose peace because peace is much more important than money. I become peace by exposing myself 2 peace inducing music, books, & people while removing myself from stress inducing influences. Peace is the result of compassion, wisdom, patience, introspection, carefully & earnestly listening, thinking, studying & acting, self-restraint, judging others favorably, looking 4 the good in people & helping them 2 become the best they can. Peace is the most valuable thing in the world. The peace exists simply because I am choosing 2 BE THE PEACE. Peace is the only thing of true pure uncomplicated value but most of us do not understand that peace is the only thing of true value until we have created intense pain & mayhem with our own self-destructive choices & thereby come 2 intensely yearn 4 the purity & bliss of Eden & "pre-creation." Reply