Shulchan Arukh's Perspectives on Procreation

Abstract

The Shulchan Arukh, as the most widely accepted code of Jewish law, continues to serve as a guiding principle for Orthodox Jewish communities. This paper examines the treatment of procreation in the Shulchan Arukh, basing on scholarly research on procreation within Judaism. It demonstrates an overarching awareness of procreation within the code and analyzes shifts in perspectives by contextualizing them within the historical and cultural framework of the compilers' time. The paper argues that the Shulchan Arukh mitigates traditional procreation commandment, strengthens the connection between procreation and increasing God's image, and fosters a cultural environment favorable to procreation. These changes can be traced back to two turning points in Jewish history: the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 and the enactment of the Ban of R. Gershom.