Why Does Judaism go by the Mother?
May 30, 2019
The Rebbe in #1168, Chassidic Thought, From the Rebbe's pen

An answer from the Rebbe to a woman who asked how are we to explain why Jewish identity is determined by the mother and not by the father?

אחד מהטעמים הגלוים: העובר כולו נבנה מטפת משהו – לגוף משוכלל (ומבנה הגוף משפיע גם על תכונות הנפש במדה חשובה) – ע”י [= על ידי] האם בלבד (בזמן שהותו בעיבור – אוכל ממה שאמו אוכלת וכו’), ועד כדי כך שרואים במוחש שרוחניות האם (והאם היא בשמחה, או בפחד וכיו”ב) משפיעה וגם מעצבת החַרַקטער
[= האופי] של העובר ושיולד שלם ובריא וכו’

אזכיר עה”צ [= על הציון]

מצו”ב [= מצורף בזה] סידור (ותהלים) במקום כניסה [ליחידות] ודיבור עוה”פ [= עוד הפעם] – שכתבה עד”ז [= על דבר זה].

 

One of the revealed reasons is that the fetus is entirely built from being a tiny drop to an intricate body (and the construct of the body influences the traits of the soul, in a significant measure) – all through the mother alone

(as we see that during the pregnancy the fetus eats from what his mother eats, etc.),

so much so that we clearly see that the spiritual state of the mother (and whether she is happy or in fear, etc.) influences as well as shapes the character of the fetus and ensures that it be born complete and healthy etc.

I will mention you in prayer at the Tziyun of the Rebbe, my father in law

I am attaching a Siddur (and a Tehilim) instead of you entering to yechidus and again speaking about what you wrote.

Article originally appeared on Beis Moshiach Magazine (http://www.beismoshiachmagazine.org/).
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