Posted on 10/13/2004 8:08:12 AM PDT by yonif
A few years ago, I took part in a telephone conference call involving 29 people. It was not a business venture, but a personal matter. Lines from Ukraine, China, France, Alaska, Texas, New York and Solon, Ohio, buzzed to Israel to wish my mother a happy 60th birthday.
What made this call so special was that it symbolized the profound blessings of a large family. All of the callers were my mother's children and their spouses: seventeen sons and daughters and twelve sons- and daughters-in-law (b'li ayin harah). Everyone had the opportunity to extend words of good wishes.
After this twenty-five-minute congratulatory roll call, one of my sisters asked, "What is the secret of your success? How did you manage to not only survive raising such a large family, but also raise such stable, happy, accomplished and self-confident kids like us?" My mother chuckled at the "self-confident" part, and in her unassuming and practical manner insisted that it was no great feat. "You just take one day at a time," she insisted, "and one child at a time, and do what needs to be done..." We all demanded a better explanation. How was it that she didn't worry about finances, living space, and simply providing the basic needs like clothing and food? At this point my father entered the conversation. "You're forgetting the full picture," he said, sharing a synopsis of his life story.
When he was twelve years old, he was fleeing from Hitler in Romania and ended up in Communist Russia. There he suffered constant persecution for his religious beliefs while at the same time was denied an exit visa and permission to leave the country.
At age nineteen, he finally tried to cross the border to Poland. He was double-crossed as his "guide" delivered him straight to the soviet police. He was sentenced to 25 years hard labor in a Siberian prison camp. When Stalin mercifully died seven years later, my father were set free together with all political prisoners .
He never dreamed that he would survive these events, but he did. He also never dreamed that he would find a Jewish woman who shared his dedication to Yiddishkeit and was prepared for the self sacrifice necessary to raise a Torah-observant family in Communist Russia. But he found my mother. In 1967, long before the Iron Curtain fell, my family, myself included, received permission to leave the USSR. We traveled to and settled in Israel.
"After all these miracles," my father concluded, "I should worry about a few pieces of bread? If G-d gave me the strength to survive all the hardships, surely He could give me the strength to provide the needs of my family." We all fell silent and thought about his philosophy.
Judaism teaches that children are the most cherished Divine blessing known to mankind. Not only are they a blessing, but tradition teaches us that every additional child brings a new flow of blessings to a family. Each additional child does not decrease from the material, financial and spiritual stability of the home; on the contrary, the entire family actually benefits from the Divine blessings that each child brings.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe once said that it is unnecessary for us to take over G-d's bookkeeping to figure out how many children He is able to care for. "He who feeds and sustains the whole world" the Rebbe said, "is able to take care of the children, as well as the parents."
Now that my wife and I have children of our own, I can truly appreciate the amazing dedication and self-sacrifice of my parents, as well as that of all those who are blessed with large families. I know that it takes an endless supply of laughter, tears and long wakeful nights to raise each child; I also know the nachas, the pride, joy and happiness that each child brings. I truly admire those that willingly set aside the best years of their life and dedicate them to raising a generation of active, giving adults. Each of these future adults will make their own unique contribution to the Jewish people as well as to all of humanity. Each child represents an infinite potential, absolutely beyond prediction. Every child has his or her own unduplicated gift to present to the world, and those who bring him or her into existence are enriching humankind.
If all this was true in all generations, how much more so in our time, when our people were so cruelly decimated in the ovens of Auschwitz.
I always tell the story of a Jewish woman, expecting her fifth child, who was working in her garden when her neighbor looked over the fence and called out: "What -- another one? How many children are you planning to have?"
She had heard this question many times before. She smiled and immediately replied, "Six million!"
Rabbi Zushe Greenberg is the spiritual leader of Chabad Center of Solon
Psalms 127:4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
If all this was true in all generations, how much more so in our time, when our people were so cruelly decimated in the ovens of Auschwitz in the abortion mills of the United States.
"What -- another one? How many children are you planning to have?"
She had heard this question many times before. She smiled and immediately replied, "Six million Forty-two million!"
wonderful story and wonderful paraphrase.
I'm going to use that answer, starting today, if the opportunity arises!
Excellent post!
"Judaism teaches that children are the most cherished Divine blessing known to mankind. Not only are they a blessing, but tradition teaches us that every additional child brings a new flow of blessings to a family. Each additional child does not decrease from the material, financial and spiritual stability of the home; on the contrary, the entire family actually benefits from the Divine blessings that each child brings."
Perfectly phrased. To God be the Glory.
I wish I could get my Christian friends to recognize this truth. Thank you for the wonderful post.
I'm glad she wants six million! This Jewish girl (that's me) wants none. I feel a little guilty but I know kids are just not for me. I am grateful for those out there who want to be good and devoted parents and will carry on our traditions.
That's a great story. But, while I know that some Jewish people are pro-life, it seems that most are not. I just don't get that.
Moms ping ... you don't all have large families, but it's still a great story!
I could never understand why a perfect stranger is bothered when they see a mother with many children. My mother in law had five, and she said people were constantly criticizing her and making back handed remarks.
I don't get it. Why do people care how many children someone else has?
Thanks for the ping!
People keep asking me that question. After my last surprise I now say "Everytime we think we're done, another one shows up." Although my husband doesn't want to have twelve children just so we can get another girl.
It is a wonderful story, and I liked your paraphrase also.
Or question someone's age..............
My husband put up with a lot of teasing (not all of it good-natured) from his peers when I was pregnant............many of them were already grandfathers, while we were becoming first time parents.
Gee, even my parents nag me about not having any more children.
I was pregnant with my third in CA, and you would have thought I had TWENTY!! I got constant remarks whenever I went out.
We were in GA when I had my fourth, and I hardly heard a word.
My husband and I hope to have four kids. I need to come up with some "zinger" type come-backs. I don't know if I can turn the other cheek when it comes to this. Its just nobody's damn business.
"Don't you know what causes that?"
"Of course ... don't YOU?"
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