Family,
Parent & Child:
Laws, Issues and Relationships
Introduction
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The Torah (Exodus 1:1) says, "And these are the names of the descendants of Israel who came with Jacob to Egypt, each man and his household...". The Torah specifies "each man and his household," telling us that the family is the key unit in the Torah's hashkofa (worldview). The midrash teaches that Yaakov understood the immorality and spiritually impure atmosphere of exile, so he had all who came with him to Egypt marry before leaving - even the young grandchildren who were still babies. Marriage is a protective shield against immorality. A strong Jewish home is the only refuge from the outside influences of golus and Yaakov wanted all of his descendants protected. The Chasam Sofer says that each "house" was a house of Torah study. They transplanted to golus the life devoted to study that they had back home. Rabbi Shimshon Rafael Hirsch writes that the Torah repeats reference to Jacob ("who came with Jacob to Egypt" - he was called both names "Israel" and "Yaakov") in this verse just before saying "each man and his household" to emphasize that each household was dedicated to Yaakov's holy Torah heritage. The Sefas Emmess says that the fact that they came as Jewish households is what set them up for salvation from Egypt. We learn from "Man and household" that the Jewish home is central to Torah tradition and protects us from outside forces when we are vigilant to keep it spiritually strong. The family is also the building block of the community, the basic unit of society; and is the building block of the continuation, through the generations, of our people and our Torah tradition. This Family, Parents & Children section is dedicated to the strengthening of our valuation of the Jewish family; and of its structure, centrality, integrity, maintenance and well-being.
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