Sixty-Seven Is Not Enough

Shahadeh Abu Arrar, 58, is a dirt poor Arab Israeli Bedouin with eight wives. Under Muslim law, you can have up to four at a time, but the Bedouins see that more as a guideline than a law. Men marry women and legally divorce them but everyone, wink, wink, knows they are still married. Says Shahadeh, "My first wife is my age, and today I hardly spend any time with her. Her children are big, and I leave her alone. I have younger wives to spend time with. Every night I decide which wife to be with."

Abu Arrar is the father of 53 children by Arab Israeli wives. He has another 14 children by Palestinian wives over in the West Bank. That's 67 total. How he supports them all is something of a mystery. He raises some camels, goats and cows and gets welfare payments worth about $1,700. That can go a long way if you are living a simple Bedouin life and put your wives to work. By contrast, the average Israeli family, who are paying for Abu Arrar's family, have about 2.3 children.

Abu Arrar brags that he knows all his children's names and is shooting for a longer list: "I'm thinking about a new wife, No. 9. There are many women who wish to marry me and there is no lack of women. I never had a problem with such things."

So there you are, ladies. If Nine is your lucky number, you better move fast. However, if Ten is your lucky number, you can probably take your time.