One afternoon this week I was doing homework with my son, Levik, who is in first grade. They recently celebrated their Siddur party and have just begun learning Chumash. For more on that - www.chabadneworleans.com/templates/blog/post.asp?aid=1203266&PostID=142079&p=1.
Levik was reading the passage that describes the second day of creation. Each verse was prefaced by the chapter and verse number, “Bereishit, Chapter 1 verse 6.” First, he read it in Hebrew and then he translated it into English. “And G-d said, "Let there be an expanse (sky) in the midst of the water, and let it be a separation between water and water." Then he tells me that his teacher, Morah Nechama Kaufmann, (who taught nearly all my siblings and children and is now starting with my grandchildren) explained that they can use the word “sky” instead of “expanse” so that they understand it better. I watched him diligently read each verse with intense devotion.
As I was listening to him read, I realized that this is the 12th time that I am doing this homework with one of my children. It got me reflecting on how they start off with Genesis, Chapter 1 and, when they stick with the program, they develop into knowledgeable Jews who can hold their own in a discussion about Jewish law, history, Talmud, mysticism, and philosophy. I thought about my other children at their various stages and their growth in Jewish scholarship. This filled me with much joy and gratitude to Hashem for the blessings He bestowed on Malkie and me and the “nachas” we derive from our family.
The first words of Torah we teach our children is “The Torah that Moshe commanded us, is the heritage of the congregation of Yaakov.” This means that the Torah that Levik and the other children are learning belongs to each and every member of the Jewish people. It is no more mine than it is yours. Your children have as much right to it as mine do. We and our children are in possession of the greatest treasure. Don’t let it stay locked in the vault of unawareness. Access your treasure. Give your children access. We have open-source wealth of the greatest magnitude. You don’t need a password. You don’t need to pay membership fees. You just need to be aware of your heritage as one of Yaakov’s descendants; one of Moshe’s disciples.
Tap into it. Make sure your children benefit from this treasure. Better yet, explore it together with them. It will be the most powerful shared experience you and your child will have together. Start from the “beginning” and work your way through. Don’t let your inheritance go to waste.
Join us for a new course series starting this coming week entitled “For All Humankind” - Your Judaism holds a message the world wants to hear. It’s time to unlock it. For more information: www.chabadneworleans.com/jli.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin