I can't wait for baby No 11, says 'rampant rabbi'

Daily Mail 20th January 2009

Go forth and multiply, it says in the Old Testament. And Philip Sharp is not a man to question the word of the Lord.

The self-proclaimed rabbi recently celebrated the birth of two more babies by two of his 'wives' and is already looking forward to another new arrival - baby number 11 - in September.

At the last count Mr Sharp, whose bizarre living arrangements came to public attention two years ago, has ten children, seven wives and a mother-in-law to provide for.

The 48-year-old claims God told him he was an Old Testament king and he should increase the size of his family to strengthen his religious faith. So he decided to create a harem of devoted wives.



Now the 'rampant rabbi', as he is known, has fathered ten children by four wives.

Although the marriages are not legally binding, Mr Sharp, who never uses contraception, believes the women become his wives when they sleep with him. He describes his lifestyle as a 'religious calling' but admits that it can be tough with so many mouths to feed.

Wife Margo, 40, gave birth to daughter Shayna three months ago while wife Vreni, 38, had a baby girl named Yanis on January 9.

And wife Tracey, 42, announced she was expecting two weeks ago and is due to give birth in September.

Mr Sharp, who claims £800 a month in child benefits, said the family struggled to make ends meet because his £60,000-a-year haulage business was suffering in the recession.

He said: 'Each child makes things a little tighter, but I won't stop having kids.

'We've had to make cutbacks and whenever another wife announces she's pregnant my initial reaction is always, "How will we cope financially?'' '

But despite the size of his enormous brood, who range in age from six years to two weeks, he owns up to not being a hands-on dad.

He lives in his own one-bedroom annexe next door to his family's four-bedroom farmhouse in Whatlington, East Sussex.

And although he decides who shares his bed each night, new mothers Vreni and Margo have not stayed over since the birth of their babies.

He said: 'I keep my distance from the wives for at least three weeks after they've given birth, according to the Jewish faith.'

Margo and Vreni are not offended. 'We really bonded while we were pregnant,' said Vreni, who is also mother to two-year-old Michal. 'If we have any problems we go to each other rather than bother Philip.'

Margo said: 'I'm proud of the four children I've had with Philip, but I don't want any more - I have too much work as it is.'

Mr Sharp was a rabbi at a Messianic Jewish synagogue in Hove, Sussex, when he left his first wife, with whom he has five children, in 1999 and ' married' his secretary Judith, 49.

Within three years he 'married' Margo, Tracey, Vreni, Hannah, 50, Chava, 64, and Karen, 29. Karen's mother Maureen later came to live with them.

He said: 'After 15 kids I'm used to the process, but I still get emotional and excited about getting to know someone new. I don't think Tracey's baby will be the last.

'It's not up to me to decide how many children we have. With God's blessing there will be many more.'