Q&A: Marriage of Minors
Marriage of Minors
Question
Hello Rabbi Michi!
How are you doing during psychometric exam week (for me at least)?
Recently I saw a tweet by someone saying that Jews say Muhammad was a pedophile, and then she brings a question that was asked to Rabbi Hanoch ben Moshe (a student of Rabbi Shmuel HaNagid) about intercourse with a six-year-old girl (it happened by mistake). Apparently her claim is that among Jews too it's like that. I didn't really understand what her starting point is, but
A. Since when is there a Jewish attitude toward Muhammad (aside from Maimonides in the Epistle to Yemen)?
B. Why should Jewish social norms in the 11th century matter to anyone today? It was also different in the Talmud, it was also different in the period of the Shulchan Arukh, and today too it's different.
I'm not very familiar with marriage of minors in Jewish law, except that it was ruled in the Shulchan Arukh to marry at age 18. I don't know how much that happens today.
2. In your opinion, what advantages does a college have over a university?
Answer
My psychometric exam was already about a week and a bit ago, so everything is fine. 🙂
A. I have no idea.
B. People are interested in comparisons regarding the moral level of Jews in all generations relative to their surroundings and in an objective sense. I agree that this is exaggerated.
2. It's easier to get accepted, and usually the studies are easier too. It's also easier to succeed because the people are at a lower level than at a university. Whether those are advantages or not, decide for yourself. I very much doubt it.