Big Families

As a father of eight (with one more on the way!), Rabbi Shmuley says he feels blessed to have a large family. "If I ever find anything in life that I enjoy as much as my children, I will have a lot of that as well," he says.

While Rabbi Shmuley believes children bring blessings, he says that in America, blessings don't bring more children. "In America, the richer you are, the fewer children you have—prosperity has led us to value things over babies," he says. Rabbi Shmuley also says that large families often feel discriminated against and find themselves on the defensive. So why do they do it?

Benefits of having a large family:

1. Love. More family members means more love in the home—plain and simple, Rabbi Shmuley says.
2. Companionship. With more siblings, there are more playmates, more sharing and more love to give and receive, Rabbi Shmuley says.
3. Help. The more kids you have, the more helpers you have around the house, Rabbi Shmuley says.
4. Unity. In a large family, there's more cohesion—like a little summer camp.
5. Fun. When there's more children, there's more playfulness, Rabbi Shmuley says. Plus, young children keep parents young.
6. Innovation. While more people in the family means more expenses, Rabbi Shmuley says necessity is the mother of invention. "You find the money because you work harder—you find a way."

Today's Shmuleyism
"Our misguided values in our culture are principally evident in our loss of appreciation for children. But he who loves children loves innocence, loves playfulness and remains forever young."