harry@ucbvax.UUCP (Harry I. Rubin) (07/19/84)
I had heard long ago that the reason for the Halacha that a person is Jewish IFF their mother is Jewish is because the mother is traditionally the primary caregiver, and would raise the child to her beliefs. This is not just a matter of which text the child reads in Sunday school, it is transferred to the child in a million subtle ways: bedtime stories and nursery rhymes, lullabyes, attitudes and actions of the caregiving parent, manner of discipline, amount and manner of display of affection, etc. I believe the foundation of the Halacha is that even if a nonjewish mother agreed to raise her children as Jews, the subtle, even subconcious cues and signals would not teach the right behaviors and attitudes. I think this has some strong implications about childcare and Jewish families today, and the responsibility of Jewish parents in the upbringing of Jewish children. Perhaps in this day of 'househusbands,' two career families, and childcare, this Halacha needs revision. Any discussion? Harry I. Rubin (harry@berkeley, ...!ucbvax!harry)