Basya Tsybukmakher
An excerpt from a letter by the great Chofetz Chaim addressing the problems of contemporary child-rearing and Torah education.
To explain all this in detail—the rightness of the true and just path on the one hand, and the harm inherent in new and distorted paths on the other—the greatest sages of the generation compiled a special collection, “The Way of Torah.” May many people read it, reflect, and set everything right as it should be. Here, too, we present the proper course of study and upbringing, in the hope that all upright people of Israel, and every person whose heart harbors fear of the Almighty, will not stray from the road we have laid out for them. In the merit of teaching our sons Torah, in the merit of the words of Torah spoken by young children, may we be privileged to see them become worthy Jews, faithful to the Almighty and His Torah and to our King—may his glory be exalted! And may we be privileged to see Israel’s strength exalted with the coming of the Redeemer—soon, in our days. Amen!
Here is the course of study established to organize a proper process of education and upbringing, with the agreement of all the great sages of Israel, as required by the teachings of the Talmud and the sages of earlier generations.
1) Every Jew is obligated to teach his son the five books of the Torah, with an accurate explanation of the plain meaning of the verses, with the commentaries of Rashi and other sages of earlier generations, in accordance with the tradition accepted by our sages.
This should be done so that, as his son grows, his mind and heart become imbued with faith and a desire to follow the paths of Torah, and so that he develops good character traits and fear of G-d and the King, arising from the Torah. [For the commentaries of Rashi and other sages explain the Torah, Prophets, and Writings in a way that leads the student to the study of the Oral Torah—that is, to what we pray for every day in the “Ahavah Rabbah” blessing (before reciting “Shema Yisrael”): “…And grant our hearts understanding, so that we may understand and comprehend (the words of Torah), heed them, learn and teach, preserve, fulfill, and carry out with love all that we learn in Your Torah.”] In the Laws of the Foundations of the Torah (4:13), the Rambam calls (knowledge of the Oral Torah) “bread and meat,” referring to knowledge of what is forbidden and permitted, and similar matters concerning the other commandments—what a person needs first and foremost, and through which he leads a rational and mindful life in accordance with Torah. And this is a great benefit bestowed upon him by the Almighty so that this world may be inhabited and he may inherit life in the World to Come—so says the Rambam. How wonderful is the lot of one who is privileged to bring his sons to the study of Gemara and lead them from one success to the next! In any event, however, every father must recognize the need to teach his son all five books of the Torah with Rashi’s commentary, rather than individual verses or topics.
2) One must seek teachers known for their professional skill and fear of G-d, who meticulously observe the commandments and the instructions of the Torah sages.
Fathers must be confident that these teachers will raise their sons to love Torah and fear G-d, to be highly moral and possess good character traits, and to love the King and his laws. They must also be confident that the teachers will take care to train their sons to uphold the commandments and customs properly—for example, reciting blessings over food, drink, and so on, as well as responding properly to Kaddish: Yehei shmei rabbah…, praying, washing their hands, and the like—so that the habit of observing the Almighty’s commandments, instilled in childhood, becomes part of their nature, and so that even in old age they will not abandon it, as it is said: “Train a youth according to his path, and even in old age he will not stray from it” (Proverbs, 22:6).
3) Just as every Jew is obligated to set aside regular times for Torah study, recite “Shema Yisrael” at the proper time, participate in communal prayer, and fulfill all the commandments incumbent upon both the individual and the community, so too—and even more so—is he obligated to devote time to overseeing and supervising his sons’ upbringing, ensuring that they are educated in the paths our fathers have followed since ancient times.
This is precisely what has always preserved us and our Torah, ensuring that it would not be forgotten among Israel. And now, when, because of our many sins, obstacles and those who erect them are multiplying, fathers have an even greater obligation than before to beware of unfit and unworthy educators and methods of study incompatible with the paths of Torah. It is the duty of all who fear G-d to consult with one another about how to oversee and supervise properly, so as to choose highly experienced teachers with good character traits. These teachers must know and understand that fear of Heaven is the first and foremost thing to instill in a child’s soul, together with the Torah they teach him, and that only in this way can they merit having it said of their children: “Israel, in whom I will be glorified” (Isaiah, 49:3).
4) Everything discussed above should also be thoroughly explained to mothers and to everyone: whether their descendants will be true Jews depends on a proper Jewish upbringing.
Those who address the public are obligated to explain to their listeners the vital necessity of parental supervision of their sons’ upbringing in the very places where they study Torah, so that their education follows the paths our fathers have followed throughout the ages. The merit of this commandment—“And you shall teach them (the words of Torah) to your sons”—will serve as protection for all who guide their sons onto the path of Torah. And the following words will be fulfilled for them: “And all your sons will be taught by the L-rd, and great will be the well-being of your sons” (Isaiah, 54:13), and “Great is the well-being of those who love Your Torah, and there are no obstacles for them. I hoped for Your help, O L-rd, and fulfilled Your commandments” (Psalms, 119:165, 146).
The words of the least of the kohanim, a servant of the Almighty’s servants, who wrote and signed this for the glory of the Almighty and His Torah.
Translation — Rav P. Perlov