Is it true that Jewish people generally have large families?

Question

I was told by someone that it was to make up for the loss in the Holocaust.

Answer 1

Since I am probably the only Jew on here answering this question I will state the answer plainly. Do Jews have big families to make up for the loss from the Holocaust? - The answer is NO. Only Orthodox Jews have larger families. The Reform and more liberal movement in Judaism do not have a larger birth rate that the rest of the world. The reason for a higher birthrate amongst the Orthodox Jewish world is because the halacha (Jewish law) requires that the Biblical command to "be fruitful and multiply" be honored by every married couple. At a minimum, we believe that this command is fulfilled when both a boy and a girl are produced. If many kids are produced with the absence of one gender then technically the mitzvah (command) has not been fulfilled in its "potential." This is not to say that a couple who has many children of one gender have not fulfilled the mitzvah- only that the rule of one boy and one girl is a leniency. Further, in stricter sects such as Chasidic groups, we do not believe in the use of birth control. The philosophy is that children are a blessing to our heritage and our way of life- they are not looked upon as an inconvenience. Truly, nothing else matters in life than raising a family. Once a person dies this is all that lives on.

Answer 2

Jewish orthodox families may have more children than other Jewish families because the only contraceptive method allowed in the Torah is a mokh, similar to the sponges available today. These have a higher failure rate than other contraceptive methods.

However, Jewish people, on the whole, tend to have fewer children than other ethnic and religious groups. Jewish people do not believe that the ability to produce life on the planet is a command that you should. In fact, Jewish people believe that there should be more humane people in the world, not necessarily just more people.

And, whoever told you this was obviously misinformed.

Answer 3

Comment to Sawyer. Gee, that MAY even be true, because ALL groups want to advance themselves.
Even the high school football team wants more funding and wants to shut down, say, Model Congress or whatever.
But the WAY you say it!
Not cool beans.
Not cool.

Answer 4

umm.. im not going to say that there aren't ppl who do have large familes for that reason, but that is by NO MEANS the main reason....

the very first commandmant in the torah( the jewish bible) is "pru Urvu"/ "be fruitful and multiply"... that why there are alot of orthodox families with a lot of kids.... * this is the main reaosn for very large religious families.....**

Not everyone who is orthodox has huge familiesthough.. three are only three kids in mine :)

Answer 5

orthodox jews traditionally favour large families, because of the biblical commandment to "be fruitful and multiply." non-orthodox jews usually have smaller families, and since orthodox jews aren't a very big branch, it tends to even out. i think i read recently that in north america the average number of kids born to a jewish couple was 1.5, and in israel 2.5.

Answer 6

Not in the USA .They average 2 per family.

Answer 7

No more than anyone else. And the holocaust thing was in bad taste a little, don’t you think?

Answer 8

No I know two Jewish families and each one has two daughters and no sons

Answer 9

Catholics have large families. Thats what we're suppose to have. We get married and we're suppose to breed. We don't believe in protection of any kind...thats why we say no sex before marriage.

Answer 10

LMAO. yes they reproduce rapidly because they want to make up for those who died in the holocaust. that makes sense.