QUESTION
What is your opinion about a frum man who takes very little part in helping his wife and his children in the kitchen and so on?
ANSWER
And the answer is, it depends on the circumstances. Sometimes a man works very hard for parnassah and he has to take a lot of ill treatment from his boss or from competitors or from customers. Sometimes a man comes home so broken that the house is like a hospital for him. And therefore, he deserves a lot of consideration.
However, if it's a man who has a comparatively easy life and he comes home in good condition, there's no reason why he shouldn't help out a little bit. There should certainly be some token assistance, especially if the wife wants it.
Now, some women don't want the husband to putter around in the kitchen. They tell him to keep out of it. He's a lucky man. But even then, he should make some motions as if he's trying to help out until she tells him to go out.
But there's no question at all everybody should feel it's his duty to help carry the burden of the house. June 1983
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