Faith
Why Is One Who Has No Children Considered as Dead?
Question
With blessing and peace, the Gemara says {Tractate Avodah Zarah 5a; Nedarim 64b} that the Master said that four are considered as dead: one who is poor, one who is blind, one who has leprosy, and one who has no children. I would like to ask about the verse, "one who has no children is considered as dead." Why is a person who has no children considered as dead? What is meant by this? If possible, I would appreciate a clear explanation that I could explain to others. Thank you in advance - Matana
Answer
With blessing and peace
In the book Gur Aryeh by the Maharal, it is explained
that he is considered as dead. And the reason seems to be that the living have no interruption, like a "well of living waters" (Song of Songs 4:15), which is called a "well of living waters" because this source is constantly flowing, whereas death is the absence of a thing and its cessation. Therefore, one who has no children - for whom there is a cessation of his offspring - is called dead, and only one who is like a well, which is called living because it is always flowing and giving forth, is called living. Likewise, one who has offspring, who increases and multiplies and has a flowing source - through this he is called living. But one who has a cessation is like one who is dead:
Success,
Benjamin Shmueli
