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From: harry@ucbvax.UUCP (Harry I. Rubin)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: jewish mother
Message-ID: <1359@ucbvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Jul-84 17:25:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.1359
Posted: Wed Jul 18 17:25:23 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Jul-84 05:04:43 EDT
Organization: U.C. Berkeley
Lines: 21

I had heard long ago that the reason for the Halacha that
a person is Jewish IFF their mother is Jewish is because the mother
is traditionally the primary caregiver, and would raise the child to
her beliefs. This is not just a matter of which text the child reads in
Sunday school, it is transferred to the child in a million subtle ways:
bedtime stories and nursery rhymes, lullabyes, attitudes and actions of
the caregiving parent, manner of discipline, amount and manner of display
of affection, etc. I believe the foundation of the Halacha is that
even if a nonjewish mother agreed to raise her children as Jews, the subtle,
even subconcious cues and signals would not teach the right behaviors
and attitudes.

I think this has some strong implications about childcare and Jewish families
today, and the responsibility of Jewish parents in the upbringing of Jewish
children.

Perhaps in this day of 'househusbands,' two career families, and childcare,
this Halacha needs revision. Any discussion?

					Harry I. Rubin
					(harry@berkeley, ...!ucbvax!harry)