The concept of fatherhood in traditional Jewish sources and its impact on current views of fatherhood

This thesis proposes that Jewish children brought up in observant families have advantage over children who grow up in secular households. The thesis shows that it is not necessarily due to the religious scriptures, to which they are exposed, nor to the commandments, which the families adhere to; rather to the fact that observant men who follow the traditional way of life are more available to their children, and their presence and familial responsibilities bring about stability that helps the children to flourish. The research is a cross section between ancient religious text and Modern Hebrew literature. Through the prism of the traditional Jewish perspective of fathering, it examines all depictions of fatherhood in the works of the prizewinning Israeli author, Haim Sabato. As a leading member of the observant Orthodox community and an accomplished contemporary writer, Sabato's works serve as a great testament of life within traditional communities. The role of the father in society has changed dramatically in the last few decades. In many countries, the numbers of births per year have consistently dropped. The percentages of children being raised in fatherless homes has risen steadily. Statistics point to a myriad of challenges amongst the children in these families. Despite the trends in the broader society, the observant Jewish community has displayed a strong commitment to the institution of marriage, as set down in the tradition. Men marry at an earlier age and the number of children remains above the average. The incidence of divorce is lower, and child abandonment is rare. The research provides an understanding of the Jewish way of life. The focus of the research centers on the behaviors of the father towards the son. Through close reading and analysis, this research shows the impact of the tradition on the Jewish male's attitude towards fathering, and highlights those aspects of the tradition that have helped maintain the availability of the "traditional" father and its impact on the stability of the home.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

School of Languages and Literatures

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Levitz, Ephraim

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Reisenberger, Azila Talit

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12889

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/12889