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Key points about issues of relationships

A Jewish boy lighting the Menorah
Image caption,
A Jewish boy lighting the Menorah.
  • The , , and (collectively known as the Tenakh) teach Jewish people that the nature and purpose of family is to provide security and a foundation of faith.

  • Most Jews see marriage as an important and necessary part of life. Judaism also has the mechanism for divorce when needed and the opportunity for remarriage.

  • According to the Torah, God made male and female to complete each other and procreate. However, there are differing Jewish views on sexuality, sex before marriage and the use of .

  • Judaism teaches that humans have been created in the image of God and therefore men and women are equal. However, not all Jews agree on the roles that men and women have in worship and in the home.

A Jewish boy lighting the Menorah
Image caption,
A Jewish boy lighting the Menorah.
Remember



Remember

There are different denominations of Judaism, for example Orthodox, Reform or Progressive and Conservative (Masorti).

Find out more about the largest branches of Judaism.

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Video

Watch the video below to compare Jewish, Muslim and Sikh attitudes and teachings towards educating children within a faith.

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The nature and purpose of the Jewish family

A Jewish girl lighting the menorah candle with her parents stood behind her smiling during Hanukkah celebration.
Image caption,
Lighting the Menorah is one way parents teach their children about Jewish traditions at home.

For Jews, the family is an important institution. Depending on the branch of Judaism, these can include traditional , stepfamilies, extended families and same-sex parents.

Based on the teachings of Moses, the foundations of the Jewish family are:

  • Kavod – Treating each other with respect and dignity within and outside the home.

  • Chessed – Kindness, or love between people.

  • Shalom bayit – Marital reconciliation and the desire for peace and stability within the home.

A Jewish girl lighting the menorah candle with her parents stood behind her smiling during Hanukkah celebration.
Image caption,
Lighting the Menorah is one way parents teach their children about Jewish traditions at home.

The purpose of the Jewish family

Purpose of the Jewish family: Preserving the faith (image of Jewish couple on their wedding day), growing the faith (image of family - Two adults and two children holding hands), raising children in the faith.(image of family lighting a Menorah).

One of the key roles of the family in Judaism is preserving and growing the faith. This might include:

  • Preserving the faith – Within Judaism, it is seen as the ideal if both parents are Jewish, to preserve the faith. Mothers in Judaism are of great importance. Orthodox Jews believe the line of religious descent passes through the mother. However, Reform Jews believe it can also be passed through the father.

  • Growing the faith – The Torah contains the command from God: “Be fruitful and multiply,” (Genesis 1:28). This is interpreted by many Jews that a main role of the family is to procreate.

  • Raising children in the faith – Parents have a responsibility to share the faith with children and encourage them to attend synagogue and . Children may be taught to take part in various rituals at home, such as the or keeping , some may learn Hebrew so they can read and understand scriptures. Deuteronomy states:

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children.”

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Answer this question about the Mezuzah

Why do many Jews have a Mezuzah on the door of their home?

Mezuzah on a yellow door frame.
Remember



Remember

The Mezuzah is a sign that Jewish commitment and identity exists in the home.

The Torah teaches that the family is vital in passing on, and educating children in, the Jewish faith.

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Issues of relationships key terms quiz

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Marriage in Judaism

The nature and purpose of marriage

Many Jews view marriage as a gift from God and a promise between him and the couple. As stated in Genesis: "God said, 'It is not good for the Human to be alone; I will make a fitting counterpart for him',” (Genesis 2:28). According to teachings in , marriage is a commitment of love and companionship, and a bond to create a Jewish home for the glory of the God.

For many Jews the principal purpose of marriage is to have children:

And God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply."

Genesis 1:28

Some key elements of a Jewish wedding

The wedding ceremony consists of a number of different steps: 1. The couple sign the ketubah (marriage contract) in front of two witnesses, 2. The bridegroom places the veil over the bride's face, 3.The couple stand under the huppah. The bride walks around the groom 7 times, 4. Blessing over the marriage are made the couple drink a glass of wine, 5. A ring is given to the bride, an unbroken circle to represent a harmonious marriage, 6. The rabbi makes a speech and reads the ketubah aloud, 7. The groom crushes a glass under his foot.

The Talmud gives advice on how married couples should treat each other:

A man should love his wife as much as he loves himself, and honour her more than he honours himself”

Yevamot 62b

A wife… brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She is clothed with strength and dignity … When she speaks, her words are wise, and she give instructions with kindness.”

Proverbs 31:10-12;25-26

According to Rabbinic teaching, if these commands are followed, they will lead to great rewards from God.

Polygamy

Polygamy is the act of marrying multiple partners. Polygamy is illegal in the UK and was declared illegal within Judaism by Rabbenu Gershom in the 11th Century.

GCSE exam-style question

Describe the importance of marriage to religious believers of Judaism.

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Divorce and remarriage

Divorce is a legal process that ends marriage.

Judaism teaches that marriage is a sacred commitment and union, however the religion does accept divorce.

Many Jews will view divorce as a last resort that even causes God to feel the pain of the couple:

Malachi 2:16 states: “For I hate divorce, says the Lord the God of Israel”. The Talmud speaks of: “When a man puts aside the wife of his youth, even the very altar weeps,” (Gittin 90b).

In Judaism, a certificate of divorce is called a '' and it must be witnessed by two Jews. In the UK, there must also be a legal divorce to ensure the proceeding is in accordance with the law.

In Orthodox Judaism, a ‘get’ is given from the man to the woman, but the divorce does have to be mutually agreed:

If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her … he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house.”

Deuteronomy 24:1

Once a legal divorce has been completed and a ‘get’ has been granted, a divorcee can remarry according to , however there are some restrictions.

GCSE exam-style question

Describe Jewish religious beliefs about divorce and remarriage.

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In pictures: Family, marriage and divorce in Judaism

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 5, An adult male shows a boy a line from a scroll by pointing at it. Each is wearing a kippah., Judaism teaches it's the family's duty to bring children up in the faith which may involve reading Holy Scriptures and learning Hebrew.
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What does Judaism teach about same-sex marriage?

Due to the change in UK in 2013, legal marriage in the UK now includes same-sex marriages. However, some Orthodox Jews use teachings from the Torah and religious traditions to oppose same-sex marriage.

In Leviticus (18:22), Jews are told: “Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman”. Many Jews will see this verse as forbidding homosexual relations and same-sex marriage.

A parade with someone hold up a Pride flag next to a gay couple kissing under a huppah.
Image caption,
Gay couple kiss under a huppah as they celebrate their wedding during a Pride parade.

For some Jews, there is a debate between inclination and practise. This could mean that a Jew who is homosexual may choose not to be sexually active and instead practise so as not to go against religious teachings.

Many Reform and Masorti Jews accept same-sex marriage and use the teaching from Genesis, "God created man in his own image,” (Genesis 1:27) to support their views. Some synagogues offer same-sex couples a Shutafut, which is a partnership ceremony.

A parade with someone hold up a Pride flag next to a gay couple kissing under a huppah.
Image caption,
Gay couple kiss under a huppah as they celebrate their wedding during a Pride parade.

GCSE exam-style question

Describe Jewish religious views about same-sex marriage.

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Sex before marriage

Many Jews believe that sexual relationships should only happen within marriage, this is because by becoming “one flesh”, (Genesis 2:24) the husband and wife become the closest of relatives, as described by .

Although marriage is considered the ideal state for a sexual relationship between a couple, some Reform Jews accept that cohabitation and sex before marriage can happen in a loving, faithful and committed relationship.

Adultery

One of the Ten Commandments is: “You shall not commit adultery,” (Shemot 20:14). It is seen as one of the foundational principles of Judaism.

Marriage can be viewed as a part of a relationship with God and therefore sexual unfaithfulness is also a betrayal of God’s will.

Jews believe that sexual unfaithfulness is a betrayal of trust and of God’s gift of marriage.

Contraception

Judaism teaches that children are a gift from God and should be brought into a marriage union.

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”

Psalm 127:3

Many Jews believe God’s purpose of sex within marriage is to have children and so pleasure in sex is a secondary consideration. Genesis 38:6–10 tells the story of Oman, who “spilled his seed on the ground” rather than impregnate a woman: “And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of the Lord".

Some Jews use this as evidence to oppose certain contraception methods. Jews do not approve of any artificial contraception unless the mother’s life is at risk.

Orthodox Jews, following a consultation with a rabbi, and based on the teachings of can use contraception after two children, taking into consideration the resources they have available to bring up a family.

Reform Jews may believe it’s up to the couple to decide whether to use contraception and also which type of contraception to be used.

Video

Watch the video below to learn more about Jewish, Buddhist and Christian attitudes and teachings towards procreation.

Question

Describe one Jewish view on contraception.

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The roles of men and women

Many Jews interpret the creation story, which shows God creating male and female at the same time, as evidence of equal status between men and women.

Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image’ … So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Genesis 1:27

However, Genesis 3:16 states: “Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you”. This is interpreted by some Jews as evidence that men and women are not equal.

Julia Neuberger
Image caption,
Julia Neuberger was the second woman to be ordained as a Rabbi in the UK, in 1977.

In Orthodox Jewish worship there are often different roles for men and women, for example in Orthodox synagogues, women do not play a leading part in worship; they cannot be rabbis or cantors and men and women might sit separately.

Reform Judaism suggests there are no specific roles for either men or women and that the Torah needs to be reinterpreted in light of modern views and support the view that men and women are equal.

Julia Neuberger
Image caption,
Julia Neuberger was the second woman to be ordained as a Rabbi in the UK, in 1977.

GCSE exam-style question

Describe Jewish religious beliefs about gender equality.

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Judaism scripture quiz

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Issues of relationships Judaism quotes

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 5, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7,
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