(ו) וְהָי֞וּ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ הַיּ֖וֹם עַל־לְבָבֶֽךָ׃ (ז) וְשִׁנַּנְתָּ֣ם לְבָנֶ֔יךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֖ בָּ֑ם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֤ בְּבֵיתֶ֙ךָ֙ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ֣ בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וּֽבְשָׁכְבְּךָ֖ וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ׃
(6) Take to heart these things which I command you this day. (7) And you shall teach them to your children, and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk upon your path, and when you lie down and when you get up.
1. What things is a parent commanded to teach their children, according to this text?
2. The word v'shinnantam, "teach," literally means "to repeat over and over." What does this mean about a parent's obligation to their child?
3. What else does this text teach us about a parent's obligation to their child?
A parent is obligated to do the following for their child: to circumcise him, to redeem him if he is a firstborn, to teach them Torah, to help them find a partner, and to teach them a trade. There are those who say that a parent is also obligated to teach their child how to swim.
1. Do you agree that these are the six most important things for a parent to do for their child? Why or why not?
2. What would you add to this list? What would you change or remove from this list?
(ו) חֲנֹ֣ךְ לַ֭נַּעַר עַל־פִּ֣י דַרְכּ֑וֹ גַּ֥ם כִּֽי־יַ֝זְקִ֗ין לֹֽא־יָס֥וּר מִמֶּֽנָּה׃
(6) Educate a young child according to their path; even when they become old, they will not swerve from it.
One should not promise to give something to a child and then not give it to them, because that person will thereby teach the child lying, as it is said, “They have taught their tongues to speak lies” (Jeremiah 9:4).
1. According to these texts, what is a parent supposed to teach their child?
2. According to these texts, how is a parent supposed to teach their child?
General Question: Aside from education, what responsibilities should a parent have towards their child? What else does a parent need to do for their child in order to have an ideal parent-child relationship?
7th Graders:
- What do you think your parents should teach you?
- How do you think your parents should teach you?
- What else is reasonable to expect from your parents? In order for you to have a good relationship with your parents, what do you think they need to do, and how do you think they should treat you?
Parents:
- What do you think you should teach your children?
- How should you teach your children?
- What else is reasonable for your children to expect from you? In order for you to have a good relationship with your children, what do you think you need to do, and how do you think you need to treat them?