A crucial word is missing from Nicole Brackman's commentary: some. That is, some, but not all feminists, decry religious women who choose to have large families. Some, but not all socialists, decry the masses as being hopelessly mired in false consciousness. - M. L. -1/1-/2001
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Thankyou for your opinion, it was very helpful. This is an issue that has been(and in some ways still is) concerning me. I have been to shuls before where the mechitza is a brick wall, graced with a tiny aperture through which women can crane their necks and peek for a glimpse of the Torah. How do you feel about situations such as these? - S. H. -1/0-/2001
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I don't think the issue is the money per se, it is the value placed on children. The idea that more children means less love or less value is a terrible import from the outside world. Children are a blessing, just like rain, good parnassa, and many other things in life, that require channeling and tending. Every child is a gift from G-d, and should be seen as such, not as a "burden" on society. Think about the parents of large families-- in their old age they will be cared for by their many offspring, as opposed to those who must depend on one or two, creating difficulties of many types. We should beware of absorbing ideas from the outside world that are not reflective of Torah and G-ds view. -1/0-/2001
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I agree with the fact that religious women are not robots programmed by the rabbis, but I can also see the other people's point of view. In our backwords world, the greatest joy one can experience is getting money, so people don't understand why any woman would want to stay home with their kids. I admire the author for not "going with the flow". - M. G. -0/5-/2001
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Snide comments, pro and con, aside, the massive increase in child allowances is just not an expense that the Israeli budget can bear. I say this as the mother of a "large family" who live a very frugal lifestyle. The increase would have more than doubled the child allowance we receive now, but all that money has to come from somewhere, meaning from someone's pockets. It would be better to give large families a tax cut than a grant. I do think that this proposal makes large families look like people who just want a handout. Opposing this kind of irresponsible spending does not mean that one is against large families. We are proud to stand on our own two (or is that 14?) feet! - C. S. -0/3-/2001
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