The book of Genesis includes many stories about family life. This week Rabbi Woznica offers teachings about parents and children.
Shaping your Child’s Values by Instruction
Listen my son* to the instruction of your father and forsake not the teachings of your mother. (Proverbs 1:8).
Yesterday I wrote about the importance of parents teaching by example. While it is essential to be good role models, many parents mistakenly conclude that living by example will be enough to shape their children.
The verse in proverbs includes the words “instructions” and “teachings.” This conveys the importance of giving children a set of instructions—ideals to help guide their lives. For thousands of years, Jewish children and adults turned to the Torah, the Bible and other texts to learn ethics and a path to holiness. The Torah has been the foundation, the roadmap of instruction for life.
It is a Jewish parent’s responsibility to ensure their children learn this roadmap.
By being good examples for our children while instilling a love of God and teaching them to honor our Torah’s ideals, we take vital steps toward shaping a fine adult.
— Rabbi David Woznica
*While the Hebrew Bible uses “b’nee” which translates as “my son” and I want to be true to the Biblical text, this teaching applies to sons and daughters alike.