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Importance of Family in Judaism: How Far Does It Go?
The importance of family in Judaism is well established through the principles they adhere to. The importance of family in this ancient faith is even further strengthened by the events and feasts that they observe.
Importance of Family: Families as Building Blocks
Jews consider the family as the building blocks of society. Jewish law and traditions are there exactly to highlight the importance of family. They recognize the fact that each parent can bring something unique in the education, emotional, social, religious and material needs of the children. It also acknowledges the importance of quality time spent by each parent with their children.
Since different duties and laws fall on the Jewish men and women, children will only be able to have a whole Jewish experience if both parents practice the same faith. It would be difficult to give a child a full Jewish experience if only one parent is practicing the religion.
Judaism also puts emphasis on life cycle events to give children a full experience. It is up to the parents to expose their children to social and family networks. These events include circumcisions. Then boys and girls also pass through bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs as they reach the age of thirteen. This event signifies the passing of children to adulthood.
Sabbath, Prayer and Education
Sabbath is quite the central practice on which the Jewish is based upon. Families should observe them strictly. They will only be excused if there is a life threatening emergency in the family.
Praying three times a day is required from adult men and boys aging from 13 years old.
Judaism also stresses the responsibility of the parents to educate their children. Families would typically put priority on religious and secular education so it is where their family funds generally go first.
Marriage and Marital Life
The importance of family is even further emphasized with the focus it puts on the purity of the family when it comes to marital life. Couples are not allowed to make physical contact during the woman's monthly cycle. After her period the woman needs to go to a ritual bath before engaging in physical contact again.
The importance of family in Judaism is seen in an instance where the man dies. If they couple is childless, the woman can only remarry provided the brother on the man performs chalitza. No woman can remarry within 90 days.
Importance of Family in Judaism: Divorce
Even with the importance of family in Judaism, divorce is allowed. It understands that marriages can and do fail. Nevertheless, certain laws and procedures should be followed before divorce is granted and the persons are allowed to remarry.
About the Author Eternal Jewish Family (http://www.eternaljewishfamily.org) is committed to helping families come together in the Jewish faith by consulting on proper Orthodox Jewish conversion and marriage. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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