(c) Apr 18 2001 RashiYomi Inc. MY COLLECTED & INDEXED MAIL JEWISH POSTINGS-Ver #1
Individual Postings 1st appeared(& were copied in html form) on the Email List Mail Jewish

From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@saber.towson.edu> Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2000 13:08:36 -0400 (EDT) Subject: RE: What is the Jewish Legal View on Teenagers Moshe Feldman (v33n37) agrees with me (citing alternative sources) that Aliyah without the proper preparation can do more harm than good". However Moshe rejects my citation of a Psak of the Chazon Ish for my uncle on the grounds that he was teenager at the time. Moshe posits that "Teenagers may not be prepared emotionally or economically for marriage and Aliyah" I have heard views like Moshes quite frequently. But I question whether there is any Jewish source for this view. Indeed, according to my understanding halacha treats adults and teenagers the same with only 1 or 2 exceptions. Jewish halachah does not know of any category of teenagehood that would allow us to classify a teenager as more than a child but less than an adult Certainly in regard to marriage I don't see how we can tell a teenager any more than we can tell an adult that he is 'ready' or 'not ready' for marriage. With regard to Aliyah Moshe has a bit more of a case---since Teenagers may not own real-estate. But then that implies that ANY PERSON who cannot own real estate (eg they haven't saved up enough) should not feel obligated to go on Aliyah. Similarly if the Chazon Ish felt that my uncle could not support himself at 13 then we are justified in inferring that any person whose job opportunities are poor should not feel obligated to go on Aliyah. The only possibility is that my uncle was not emotionally ready----but again I question whether Jewish law allows such assessments. Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA Dept of Math; Towson Univ Moderator Rashi is Simple http://www.RashiYomi.Com/