[Avodah] Breishis: Pru uRvu & Yishuv ha'Olam

[rabbirichwolpoe at gmail.com]

It seems bepashtus that the mitzva of pru urvu is about populating the
world by reproducing more humans than what was there before. IOW to
not merely replace, but to add on by increasing the numbers.

While women are technically exempt from this mitzva. Yet their
participation is essential nonetheless [Of course!]
Lasheves yetzarah, implies a quasi obligation upon women to participate
in this goal.

Now let's step back and ask - what about those [men and women] who
unfortunately are not birthing children due to various circumstances
and limitations? What should the childless Jew do?

Approaching this from a communal focus - instead of from an individual
focus - the resolution seems also "pashtus". Men and women who are not
blessed with offspring can assist OTHERS in this noble endeavor

Digression:
The last mitzva in the Torah - I.E. kesivas Sefer Torah - is assigned
to the individual. Yet, it is rarely accomplished by the individual
anymore - it usually takes a a sofer, and often it "takes a village."

So too with bringing up the next generation. The physical parents are
analogous to the sofer, and so there is room for more participation.
Several tasks that can be parcelled out to the community at large include:
    + Assisting the new parents by providing meals or "baby-sitting" relief.
    + Medical and Nursing. Assistance
    + Training or Coaching "new parents"
    + Training children in Talmud Torah or in parnassah
    + Participating in synagogue youth work, such as minyanim etc.
    + Giving rides when necessary for parents or children -- such as
      to the doctor or shopping.
    + Playing surrogate "grandparents" when the children have none handy.

Anyway, the list goes on. The point of this exercise is to afford an
oportunity for the community to adopt this mitzva so that all may be
a part of yishuv olam. So those that cannot do themselves still can
enable others in this essential Mitzva.

Illustration:
A childless woman [let's call her Tzipporah] has dedicated her life
to teaching children in a Jewish Day School. In addition, as an aunt,
she helps her nieces and nephews by playing the role of "surrogate
grandmother". Thus both her personal and professional life participate
in partipcaitng or enabling
The mitzva of Yishuv Olam

KT
RRW
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile