We fully agree with the wise insights of Rabbi Micah Greenland:
“Parents now play a much larger role as well, wanting to be involved in their teens’ journeys, which calls for a broader understanding of family dynamics and community support.”
Personal parental example could be a vital aspect of child education. A couple once came to the “Chofetz Chaim” in Radin, Belarus asking him to bless their newborn baby that he should grow up to be a righteous scholar. He asked why they were so late in coming. The couple was bewildered. Why late? The bay’s only a month old!
The “Chofetz Chaim” told them that they should have come to him twenty years earlier. Again, the couple didn’t understand; twenty years ago, they were only toddlers. The “Chofetz Chaim” was in effect telling them that they won’t be able to give their child anything that they don’t possess themselves.
If they want their child to be an upright Torah scholar, then they could be sincere upright lovers of Torah who do their utmost to observe Hashem’s commandments.
The couple frowned, obviously disheartened. “Don’t worry,” the “Chofetz Chaim” consoled them. “I wanted you to internalize an important principle. If from this day on, you do the very best to polish your character traits and grow in love of Torah and awe of Hashem, your reward will be double: You’ll see success in your own lives, and you’ll derive gratifications from all your offspring, who’ll grow in the path of righteousness.”
The foundation of educating our children may be educating ourselves. Whatever we desire to impart on our children, “If we live it, we can give it”. We therefore could properly educate our children only after we’ve educated ourselves.
We would like to express our gratitude to Rabbi Micah Greenland, international director of NCSY.
בס”ד
Happy Hannukah,
We fully agree with the wise insights of Rabbi Micah Greenland:
“Parents now play a much larger role as well, wanting to be involved in their teens’ journeys, which calls for a broader understanding of family dynamics and community support.”
Personal parental example could be a vital aspect of child education. A couple once came to the “Chofetz Chaim” in Radin, Belarus asking him to bless their newborn baby that he should grow up to be a righteous scholar. He asked why they were so late in coming. The couple was bewildered. Why late? The bay’s only a month old!
The “Chofetz Chaim” told them that they should have come to him twenty years earlier. Again, the couple didn’t understand; twenty years ago, they were only toddlers. The “Chofetz Chaim” was in effect telling them that they won’t be able to give their child anything that they don’t possess themselves.
If they want their child to be an upright Torah scholar, then they could be sincere upright lovers of Torah who do their utmost to observe Hashem’s commandments.
The couple frowned, obviously disheartened. “Don’t worry,” the “Chofetz Chaim” consoled them. “I wanted you to internalize an important principle. If from this day on, you do the very best to polish your character traits and grow in love of Torah and awe of Hashem, your reward will be double: You’ll see success in your own lives, and you’ll derive gratifications from all your offspring, who’ll grow in the path of righteousness.”
The foundation of educating our children may be educating ourselves. Whatever we desire to impart on our children, “If we live it, we can give it”. We therefore could properly educate our children only after we’ve educated ourselves.
We would like to express our gratitude to Rabbi Micah Greenland, international director of NCSY.
Naftali Rubin
Jerusalem, Israel