This essay was taken from a book my uncle, Moshe Teitelbaum, published for the family. Here is the intro by Rabbi Nosson Scherman The Teitelbaums – Indomitable and Triumphant By Rabbi Nosson SchermanMenachem Av, 5769
Choosing a Way of Life Part 2. The importance of providing for ones family, By Moshe Teitelbaum.
As stated clearly in the K’subah that each husband gives his wife, it is the obligation of the husband to provide for his wife and family, not the opposite. While we know from exceptional cases, such as is written about the Chazon Ish, Rav Meir Simcha Hacohen, and as the Chofetz Chaim’s son writes in the beginning of the biography in Michtevei Chofetz Chaim, where their wives ran a store while they learned, we are now making a trend out of what was the rare exception.
“Kol kevudah bas melech penima”. Ideally, women at least in their childbearing years, when they have children at home, should stay at home. The effect on children brought up by babysitters is hard to determine. However, there are all too many cases of ladies being ragged out, trying to be a mother, wife, and provider all at the same time. We cannot expect everyone to be a superwoman. Note that the Gemora Baba Metzia 59a states, “A man must be careful to always have food in the house, as strife at home comes only because of the lack of sustenance”.
