Rabbi Smith. Can I play the devil's advocate? I by no means am advocating abortion in my query. But what of the case of a woman who is not emotionally prepared to give birth? There are cases of women abusing their children because they either were not prepared for parenting or they were just of bad character (and sometimes outright evil). Then because of bad parenting the child grows up into a teenager and commits a terrible crime due to resentment of the bad parenting.
What is the solution in these cases? Do you suggest "counseling" for the woman who doesn't want to give birth or find another home for such a child?
Thanks for the great question. I heard a wise man say that around 50 years old, he realized that his mother, who was severely disturbed and abusive and hospitalized in a mental institution at times, loved him! How did he realize this? When he realized that she hadn't killed him. He realized that she loved him!! This man made a very significant contribution in other people's lives and lived his life fully.
Mental health is one thought away for every person. It is clearly preferable that we be grounded each in our own Divine innate well-being. But even in the absence of that, that person is created in G-d Al-mighty's Divine Image and their offspring, too.
Our goal is to help every person reach that.
That is the general approach. Each individual will reach that grounding at their own moment. And their offspring can also at any moment.
We certainly don't want to play G-d with the decision of who is capable or authorized to have a child. There are have been terrible crimes committed by people with ideal upbringings and wonderful things done by people with less than ideal upbringings - this drives home the point that every person has free will in what thoughts they want to take seriously at every moment.
This story about the Lubavitcher Rebbe touched me deeply. How does it touch you? Reply and let me know.
Rabbi Smith. Can I play the devil's advocate? I by no means am advocating abortion in my query. But what of the case of a woman who is not emotionally prepared to give birth? There are cases of women abusing their children because they either were not prepared for parenting or they were just of bad character (and sometimes outright evil). Then because of bad parenting the child grows up into a teenager and commits a terrible crime due to resentment of the bad parenting.
What is the solution in these cases? Do you suggest "counseling" for the woman who doesn't want to give birth or find another home for such a child?
I am interested to hear your opinion.
Thanks for the great question. I heard a wise man say that around 50 years old, he realized that his mother, who was severely disturbed and abusive and hospitalized in a mental institution at times, loved him! How did he realize this? When he realized that she hadn't killed him. He realized that she loved him!! This man made a very significant contribution in other people's lives and lived his life fully.
Mental health is one thought away for every person. It is clearly preferable that we be grounded each in our own Divine innate well-being. But even in the absence of that, that person is created in G-d Al-mighty's Divine Image and their offspring, too.
Our goal is to help every person reach that.
That is the general approach. Each individual will reach that grounding at their own moment. And their offspring can also at any moment.
We certainly don't want to play G-d with the decision of who is capable or authorized to have a child. There are have been terrible crimes committed by people with ideal upbringings and wonderful things done by people with less than ideal upbringings - this drives home the point that every person has free will in what thoughts they want to take seriously at every moment.