Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mit-athena.ARPA Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!mit-athena!martillo 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 ?