Attitude Toward Fertility Treatments and Parenthood in Judaism

Question: What should be our attitude toward fertility treatments and having children? Answer: Having children is a fundamental obligation for Jewish men, rooted in the Torah's first commandment to be fruitful and multiply. At least one boy and one girl are needed to fulfill this duty, with more children potentially bringing additional blessings. Delaying parenthood for career, money, or lifestyle is incorrect; blessings come with children, not before. Initially, address fertility issues through spiritual means, as even biblical matriarchs conceived with divine intervention despite medical impossibilities. If natural conception fails, you're considered an anus, having made the required effort, with further steps needing rabbinical consultation. Remember, children's quality is influenced by parents' spiritual state and intention during conception, impacting their future attributes and behaviors. This concept is recognized even in non-Jewish scientific circles.