A NY legend

Nope. Didn't hear about it yet. Once I do, I'll make a more extensive comment.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/nyregion/21yitta.html Here's an interesting article about her life story

Interesting reading. She sure lived a long time. I am sure her family and descendants will live on, and keep her in their memory.

@ ajadidealist What an amazing article! I love how they mention that in this particular Hassidic sect, couples have an AVERAGE of nine children.

That's a great article. I was just about to say something about the large Hasidic population in my current neighborhood, Crown Heights, until I thought about it and realized that it's a different sect than the one this lady belonged to. Anyway, that number of children blows my mind.

I can't imagine having that many children, personally, but I respect her desire to bring up so many children in the faith, according to her principles - no matter how many children I end up having, I want to do that for them!

Obviously, the lady had a love for kids and for family.

@ajadedidealist thanks for sharing the article on Yitta Schwartz, can't imagine anyone having 15 children nowadays though my grandfather was one of 12 children but our generation is no way close to that . Out of his six grandchildren only one had two children!

I just read an article recently that said the Hasidic community is the single fastest growing group in terms of population, and it's because of the practice of having many many children.

@DBlack: Very interesting reading for sure. Thanks for sharing that. Does this mean that Hasidic's don't believe in birth control? Many people practice this so I was just wondering about it. Obviously, with so many kids, I assume they do not.

Jeez - after reading that article, it is no surprise that the Hasids are growing in population more than anyone else....

Maybe this is stupid question, but how do they ensure they're not marrying first cousins or any other kind of too-near relatives? I'm assuming they marry into their own communities exclusively, right? Wouldn't that quickly become a problem?

I wonder why people have fewer children nowadays. Careers? Birth control? Cost of raising them? Or a mixture of all of the above. Indeed, I've noticed NYC-based families tend to be relatively small (1-2 children). Is it just that it's so expensive and time-consuming to raise children in NYC, where the culture demands enormous costs (ie, kids getting their own room, more toys, tutors/private school, etc., in a way that might not have been expected some decades ago?)

@ajadeidealist Childbirth is exhausting!

Reading this article ( http://nymag.com/news/features/63427/ )on the gifted programs in NYC schools made me feel exhausted just thinking about having children. City-dwelling parents just have to worry about so many more things when it comes to raising children as opposed to suburbanites.

@NeverSleeps That article gave me the heebie jeebies, the pressure put on kids at way too young of an age to be something special.

@neversleeps I do know some of these super competitive parents in the city - it really is exhausting just to hear them speak about classes and activities for their 3/4 year old kids. One of my friends sends her four year old to learn french because she believes he will be able to pick it up easily when he is younger. The poor tyke hates it and cries every time he has to go to class. There is a really funny book called the Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quin which gives you an insight into the super competitive world of NYC moms and their kids and the private school admission process. I used to have my own copy but lost it..

@DBlack I know, it's horrible - and those tests don't even mean anything at the age of 4!

@uptowngirl The book sounds interesting, but also kind of depressing. Poor kid having to go to French class - sounds like something out of the Nanny Diaries. Actually, I think it is.

Egads, did you guys see the visuals that went along with that article? That one essay using the word "semiotic" and in a child's handwriting? Is that for real, do you think?

@Uraniumfish I think the illustration was just put there to display how ridiculous the whole issue is, However I must add this kind of behavior of super competitive parents and their 'gifted' offspring has extended all over the world.. in cities like Singapore, Mumbai the pressure on kindergarten children is just as bad with the all the coaching classes, admission tests and not to mention the expense associated with all this. Those days of 'enjoying' your childhood are long gone. ..

Yeah, I think uptowngirl is completely on point.