permitted a couple who knew that they would not have children to become married As long as both were fully aware of the situation, it was permissible, even lehat-hilah
In sum, the traditional attitude was as follows: Our tradition encourages marriage for the purpose of procreation and would strongly urge all couples to have children. However, if they enter the marriage fully aware of the refusal of one or the other to have children - either because of a physical defect or because of an attitude- the marriage can be considered valid, either lehat-hilah or bedi-vad. Nothing should prevent a rabbi from conducting such a marriage; although some rabbis would refuse to officiate. In light of the Holocaust and the current diminution of the world Jewish population, it is incumbent upon each of us to urge Jewish couples to have two or more children. Although young people may marry reluctantly and late, the marriage at least represents a step in the direction of children.
In Jewish law, the marriage is valid, yet given the Reform emphasis on the underlying spirit of the law as a guide to modern practice, marriage without children is very distant from the Jewish ideal of marriage. The letter of the law may permit it, but we must encourage every couple to have at least two children.
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