Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach: The Best For Age of Marriage For Girls Is 20 Years Old And Not Before
The Gemara in Kedushim (29b) says that Hashem waits for a boy to get married until he is 20 years old. If he is not married by then, says the gemara, he is subjecting himself to thoughts of aveira. The gemara says that the earlier the better. The Maharshal says that under no circumstances should one delay marriage past the age of 24, unless he is so attached to learning that he simply can't tear himself away to get married. This doesn't apply to anyone in the later generations according to the poskim.
What about girls? Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach says that the right age for marrying off girls is 20 and they need not hurry to get married before that. (Aleihu Lo Yibol)
Important Note: We try to convey the Tshuva to the best of our ability. We admit that our understanding may not be accurate. Please also understand that this Tshuva may not be the final word on this topic. One should consult a Rav before drawing any conclusions.
CM, Yerushalayim, 2011-09-20 07:30:14 What there any rationale given by Rabbi S.Z. Auerbach for his statement?
I recall personally hearing from Rabbi Avigdor Miller z"l, that a girl should marry immediately after finishing high school/seminary. He added that every day that goes by after finishing school, "the value of the girl's stocks goes down".
While it may be politically incorrect to mention it, I nevertheless note the opinion of the Ben Ish Chai (niftar 13 Elul, 5669) that in consideration of the fact that girls today are not as strong as they once were, therefore a girl should be at 13 years old before marrying! This being in lieu of girls in earlier generations marrying at 11-12 [Shut "Rav Pe'alim II, Besod Yesharim 1, p. 119, col. 2].
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