Question
How common is the dowry today amongst Jews? Is it true that a religious man will sell part of his business to finance real estate in order to marry off a daushter? Is it also true that in the case of a father with limited funds; the son will chip in to a daughter’s dowry? Are daughters supposed to also inherit more than sons in a father’s will?
Answer
Dowries are uncommon today. When dowries were common a father did what was necessary to marry off his daughter, but was not an obligation. Regarding inheritance if there are sons then by Torah law daughters don’t get any inheritance. Rabbinic laws allow a father to split his inheritance with daughters as well through a living will.