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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1998 16:24:33 -0500 (EST)
Subject: A simple reason why 7 children gives you automatic NEXT WORLD

Quite simply
          >A man is Biblically obligated to support his children
          till they are 6; after 6 however, he is rabinically obligated
          and it is considered an act of Tzedakah

          Furthermore if he is not economically able to support his
          children after 6, although we may embarass him communally and
          try and persuade him, we do not force him
          (Paraphrase of Rambam, Marriage, 12:14-15)

Thus a person who has 7 children is continually performing charity and
therefore gets a share in the next world.

The gmarrah probably chose "7 children" because at the "7 children mark"
most people enter a status of "not being economically able to support
all 7 children (under ordinary work conditions)" and therefore his
support is considered charity

Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA RHendel @ mcs drexel edu