ABSTRACT
This paper examines the attitude of the Jewish Law towards marriage and parenthood in persons with intellectual disability (ID). The criterion for validity of a marriage is a minimal level of understanding (known as daat kpeutot which is equivalent to the level of a six-year normally developed child) and the comprehension of the act of 208marriage. Jewish Law maintains that if the person understood the meaning of being married, even if the person did not intend the ceremonial act of marriage, the act itself would be considered valid. This attitude is much more understanding and liberal in comparison to American Law, which has forbidden such marriages. A case anecdote is presented and the implications for child development growing up as a child of a parent with intellectual disability are discussed. There is a paucity of information on the number of such cases, and only sparse information on the effects on these children. However, one recent study demonstrated a contrasting picture of resilience and a close warm relationship by these children later on in life with their family and especially their mother. doi:10.1300/J095v10n03_12 [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: <docdelivery@haworthpress.com? Website: <https://www.HaworthPress.com" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">www.HaworthPress.com? © 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]
