Chinuch
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Revision as of 07:33, 26 April 2013 by Nisan (talk | contribs) (Added to berachot; need to cite sources, can do later. Added section "Chinuch Attitude"; need to cite sources, can do later. Will appreciate if someone searches sources before I get to it, b'H.)
There is a rabbinic obligation on the father to educate his child to fulfill mitzvot even before he is Bar Mitzvah'ed or she is Bat Mitzvah'ed.[1] The age at which this obligation begins varies according to the mitzvah. Below are the details of this mitzvah.
Who is obligated in Chinuch?
- While the majority of the poskim hold that chinuch only applies to the father, some say it also applies to the mother. [2]
Daily Mitzvot
- Regarding a child's obligation to pray, see the Obligation_to_pray#Children page.
Brachot
- Some say that children from the age of 6 should say Birkat Hamazon. [3]
- While there is a prohibition in saying G-d's Name(Ado-nai), when it is isn't warranted, the prohibition is waived when being used in the process of chinuch. Therefore, it is permitted(obligatory, rather) to say the full beracha, with Shem and malchut, in order to teach a child how and when to say what berachot.
Shabbat
Holidays
Chinuch Attitude
- A life devoted to HaShem is the most pleasurable and fulfilling one. Therefore, the chinuch stage must be pleasing and joyful for children. The proper attitude and approach for children to learn is through "darkei no'am"; pleasant ways.
- A parent and/or teacher should generally be careful not to be excessively forceful. There are several cases where Talmudic personalities praised their behavior of not being "makpid"(strict) in their home over their wives and children even though they lived a life filled with mitzvot.
Sources
- ↑ Sefer Chinuch Yisrael (p. 59) writes that chinuch is a rabbinic mitzvah, and quotes the Chaye Adam (66:1) who writes that this is a mitzvah midivrei kabbalah (institution of the nevi'im).
- ↑ Sefer Chinuch Yisrael (p. 61). See further in the Magen Avraham 343, S"A HaRav 343, Mishna Brurah 616:5, Aruch HaShulchan 343, and Pri Megadim E"A 225:5.
- ↑ Rabbi Mansour on dailyhalacha.com writes that parents should ensure that children from the age of 6 say Birkat HaMazon.
