According to some new survey and research from England (I saw it reviewed on the Israeli website Mako, not the original survey), women are much more likely to cheat on their spouse than men.

The main reason given by women for their infidelity is boredom.

I am not going to break down the numbers or analyze the statistics. You can go there and do it yourself.

I recently learned in Shulchan Aruch that a wife should be encouraged to work, even part-time for just a small part of the day ("work" does not necessarily mean a regular job in an office, but "work" means to keep busy with something and not just sit around and have maids taking care of all her obligations. It could be housework and raising children could also be considered "work" for this purpose. Speak to your LOR or therapist for clarification on this). The reason is, the Shulchan Aruch says, is that boredom gets people in trouble, specifically "trouble" in the form of sexual infidelity.

So the English research project of today confirms what the SHulchan Aruch wrote 500 years ago.

Shkoyach!

Last night my shiur held a siyum. We finished learning Yoreh Dei'ah vol.3 and began learning Even Ha'Ezer.

Even Ha'Ezer deals mostly with the halachos relevant between man and wife, and it starts off with the topic of "Be Fruitful and Multiply" - Pirya V'Rivya.

As we were going through an introduction, a guy comes in and asks to say a few words. He tells us how he has been married 6 years and they are infertile, the treatments are not covered by the national health care and cost him $2000 per month. He and his wife both work and that is how they pay their regular living expenses, but they cannot afford the expense of the medicine and treatments....

Talk about good timing! Just as we were learning the importance of the mitzva of having children, this guy shows up and describes his problem.

Of course people gave him money and good wishes.

He would have had even better timing if he should up 20 minutes later, right after we came across a statement in the rishonim (if I remember correctly) that said one should give money to help others, who cannot, have children...