Confronting the taboo of a child-free life

This is the final instalment of a six-part series, Be Fruitful: Fertility Journeys in Modern Jewish Lives, which explores the complex and sometimes taboo journey to parenthood in the Jewish community.

In a community which values continuity and all but idolises parenthood, not having children can be especially hard. 

For some, childlessness is a deep grief, aggravated by isolation and even shame. Others embrace a life without children, saying it has brought them closer to their Judaism and unlocked the ability to explore other passions.

Here, three people share their stories of life without children with The Jewish Independent.

‘As close to being a grandparent as others’ – Helen Bryant, 76

My mother died when I was born, and my father remarried when I was two years old. Growing up without your birth mother is tough.

I was in my late teens when I decided that I was never going to have children. I didn’t want to put that burden of growing up motherless onto anybody else. It was very much an emotional decision, totally devoid of any rational thinking, because the difference in medical technology today would have made sure it didn’t happen again.

I do have some regrets of not having children, but I don't allow them to come in. I was able to do other things that filled the gap.