The solution to the shidduch crisis in one easy step!

For non-Ashkenazim (Sephardim, Teimanim, Italkim, Moroccans, Persians, etc.) it doesn’t need to be reinstated since it is perfectly fine to engage in today, as it was never stopped.

That would create a shidduch crisis for men. Some men would end up with multiple wives and others would end up with none.

Actually, Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg mentioned היתר מאה רבנים as a solution in to the Shiduch Crises in absence of another option.

I’d imagine it be limited to very special situations.

There’s a reason it was exceedingly rare in communities that didn’t have the Cherem and there’s also a reason it was so rare even before the Cherem.

Only the Teimanim held of polygamy in recent history. And even among them, it wasn’t too common. So yes, “exceedingly rare” in the sense that it was something practiced by a minority of one single Jewish ethnicity.

Only the Teimanim held of polygamy in recent history.

Moroccans and other non-Ashkenazim have living Jews who practiced it. It isn’t only Teimanim.

So yes, “exceedingly rare” in the sense that it was something practiced by a minority of one single Jewish ethnicity.

That is a mistaken notion. Au contraire. Enforcing monogomy is what’s practiced by a minority of one single Jewish ethnicity — namely, Ashkenazim. All non-Ashkenazic groups permit plural marriages. In fact, Chacham Ovadia Yosef zt’l was a very vocal supporter of it, and several times, on the record and available on recordings from his famous Motzei Shabbos shiurim insisted that Sephardim today should be permitted to have multiple wives. He was upset that the secular state outlawed it outside any binding halachic process. Indeed, the only reason it tapered off among non-Ashkenazim in general, is because the goyim/secular states most non-Ashkenazim move to in the last number of decades prevents them from engaging in it. From a purely Torah perspective it is fully permitted. If, as today seems very plausible if not likely, the various non-Jewish governments no longer pursue preventing plural marriages, then there’s every reason to believe non-Ashkenazim will immediately re-engage in their natural right they enjoy al pi halacha, already. And as has been pointed out, even for Ashkenazim Cherem R”G was initially setup with a built-in expiration date. Even though it was extended by later Rabbonim, current Ashkenazic Gedolim could decide it has outlived its usefulness and recognize that Rabbeinu Gershom himself set for the Cherem to expire and thus once again permit it.

One is more than enough. BH!

Even if this helps the shidduch crisis, I am reasonably sure it will magnify the divorce crisis

LAmother
I asked my wife for her opinion on the subject (as you suggested we need some female input here)
She told me she is perfectly fine with helping solve the shidduch crises this way, as long as she gets to choose the woman. She would make sure that she is “super rich and super ugly”

mentsch1: I’ve mentioned earlier that this inyan will mostly be applicable to wealthy men.

Zaphod
“money won’t be an issue because now there will be more people bringing in a salary”
I am guessing you aren’t married.
Lets do some Math (and I will grant you the following makes a lot of presumptions, but it is fairly illustrative)
Women are rarely the primary income earners. After all, they are needed at home.
In a 6 person household (2 parents 4 kids) with the husband earning 100k and the wife 50k. The per person income is 25k.
Now the husband marries a divorced woman with 4 kids (adding 5 people to the house). The new wife would need to earn 125k to keep the family per person income at 25k (it doesn’t matter what numbers you input, the second wife needs to earn more than the husband). And this doesn’t take into account the need for a larger house (or second home).
In other words, unless there is significant wealth here, these scenarios are a money drain.

mentsch1: Why are you assuming that the divorced women’s children will need to be supported by the step-father (her new husband) rather than by their natural father (her ex)?

Joseph,

“Those wives are the most wholesome, temimusdik, happy, Yorei Shamayim and best mothers.”

The younger, the better, huh? As General Secretary of the Lev Tahor fan club, you’re something of an expert in these matters.

ujm
“Why are you assuming that the divorced women’s children will need to be supported by the step-father (her new husband) rather than by their natural father (her ex)?”
Remember
I am in this parsha and know the reality of exes

Mentch1 i like your wife already! Dont think u can clone her, so stick w her…

@zaphod, I suggest you find some hobbies

Zaphod
In my scenario she was working, as I said she needs to make more than the husband
The only way to make the scenario work financially is population control
And perhaps to an unmarried person this sounds like a dream come true but to anyone older we know the reality

Joseph,

Living down there in your mother’s basement, you may not realize that livelihood doesn’t come easy. Unfortunately, not everyone can pretend to support themselves as a self-taught nuclear physicist and semiconductor engineer like you do.

“As for the mitzvah of raising more children? Here’s an idea
Don’t marry that optional second wife and instead use your extra time and energy to learn..”

Not sure how using the extra time to learn will somehow result in having more children with Wife No. 1 as distinct from quality time with Wife No 2.

Get married

This guy is actually a genius