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From: martillo@mit-athena.ARPA (Joaquim Martillo)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Judaism and Polygamy
Message-ID: <33@mit-athena.ARPA>
Date: Sun, 14-Oct-84 02:30:17 EDT
Article-I.D.: mit-athe.33
Posted: Sun Oct 14 02:30:17 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 16-Oct-84 03:51:14 EDT
References: <1027@akgua.UUCP>
Organization: MIT, Project Athena, Cambridge, Ma.
Lines: 41



>Subject: Polygamy and Judaism

>I have noticed in passing remarks by Mr Martillo that
>Sefardim still practice polygamy in some parts of the 
>world and I take it that the rest of the Jewish groups
>practice monogamy.  

Sefardi Hakamim and some Ashkenazi Rabbis consider Ashkenazi practice an
erroneous imitation of Christian practice.  Sefardi hakamim have always
been perfectly happy to marry Ashkenazim to second wives.

>		     Now if we start with Genesis
>2:24( *NOTE*  Observant Jews please don't be offended
>that I don't know how to reference the text but by the
>Christian divisions ..2:24 etc.)
>we note that "That is why a man leaves his father and
>mother and is united with his wife and they become one."
>(TEV).

Translating from Kittel.

Therefor a man will leave his father and his mother and cling to his
wife and they will become one flesh.

Simple meaning:  a man will leave his parents, have sex with his wife
and make a baby (the one flesh).  It has nothing to do with monogamy,
polygamy, polyandry or polygyny.

>This verse directly follows the creation of Eve.
>I would say this is a pretty strong endorsement (in context)
>of monogamy.  Yet later in the Scriptures we find many of
>the leaders like David and Solomon who are lavish polygamists
>(Solomon had hundreds of wives and concubines.)
>God seems not to take official notice of this (like He did
>when David seduced/"raped" Bathsheba).

This is not how Jews learn the incident.  But I do not have the time.

>What say the learned of Judaism on this topic ?