Chinuch: Difference between revisions
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===Washing Hands=== | ===Washing Hands=== | ||
# Children that have not reached the age of bar or bat mitzvah are required to wash their hands before eating bread. Even though washing hands is a mitzvah derabanan, it is a mitzvah of chinuch to teach kids mitzvot that are derabanan. <ref>Yalkut Yosef Dinei [[Netilat Yadayim]], Birkat Hamazon, [[Brachot]], [[Mincha]] and [[Arvit]] page 13-14 based on the Yerushalmi in Megilla 2:5 that [[chinuch]] of children applies to rabbinic laws as cited in [[Netilat Yadayim for a Meal]]. | |||
#Children that have not reached the age of bar or bat mitzvah are required to wash their hands before eating bread. Even though washing hands is a mitzvah derabanan, it is a mitzvah of chinuch to teach kids mitzvot that are derabanan. <ref>Yalkut Yosef Dinei [[Netilat Yadayim]], Birkat Hamazon, [[Brachot]], [[Mincha]] and [[Arvit]] page 13-14 based on the Yerushalmi in Megilla 2:5 that [[chinuch]] of children applies to rabbinic laws as cited in [[Netilat Yadayim for a Meal]]. | |||
<br /> An important lesson about chinuch in general can be learned from a story about trying to teach one’s son to wash before eating. It talks about a little kid who did not wash before eating bread. This infuriated his dad so he went to get something to hit him with. When he wound up to hit his son, his wife immediately stopped him and reminded him that he does not wash before eating bread either, thus he should be the one that is hit. The lesson is that if you want to successfully teach your children mitzvot, you have to take ownership and do the mitzvah as well. "חינוך לדורות - חינוך במעשים." <http://raktora.50webs.com/hinuh1.htm>.</ref> | <br /> An important lesson about chinuch in general can be learned from a story about trying to teach one’s son to wash before eating. It talks about a little kid who did not wash before eating bread. This infuriated his dad so he went to get something to hit him with. When he wound up to hit his son, his wife immediately stopped him and reminded him that he does not wash before eating bread either, thus he should be the one that is hit. The lesson is that if you want to successfully teach your children mitzvot, you have to take ownership and do the mitzvah as well. "חינוך לדורות - חינוך במעשים." <http://raktora.50webs.com/hinuh1.htm>.</ref> | ||
#One opinion is that even when the child is being spoon fed because he does not have the motor skills to feed himself yet, he still is required to wash for bread when he eats more than a Kezayit. <ref>הרב אבישלום מונייצר שליט''א. "ילדים כהלכה." ילדים כהלכה. ''</ref> | #One opinion is that even when the child is being spoon fed because he does not have the motor skills to feed himself yet, he still is required to wash for bread when he eats more than a Kezayit. <ref>הרב אבישלום מונייצר שליט''א. "ילדים כהלכה." ילדים כהלכה. ''</ref> | ||
#Harav Adir Cohen says that when the child can say the bracha they should wash their hands before eating bread. Since in many kindergarten and nursery classrooms they have posters of the bracha on the wall, they have already memorized it when they are young. Therefore, they should be able to wash by then. <ref>הרב אדיר הכהן שליט"א. " חינוך לנטילת ידים לילדים." חינוך לנטילת ידים לילדים. </ref> | # Harav Adir Cohen says that when the child can say the bracha they should wash their hands before eating bread. Since in many kindergarten and nursery classrooms they have posters of the bracha on the wall, they have already memorized it when they are young. Therefore, they should be able to wash by then. <ref>הרב אדיר הכהן שליט"א. " חינוך לנטילת ידים לילדים." חינוך לנטילת ידים לילדים. </ref> | ||
#Children that have reached the age of chinuch should be trained to wash their hands upon rising in the morning and they should not touch food before washing hands.<ref>Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen (Children in Halacha page 14) | # Children that have reached the age of chinuch should be trained to wash their hands upon rising in the morning and they should not touch food before washing hands.<ref>Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen (Children in Halacha page 14), Shulchan Aruch haRav 4:2. | ||
#Children who have reached the age of chinuch should be trained to wash their hands after going to the bathroom or touching parts of their body that are generally covered.<ref>Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen (Children in Halacha page 15). Chinuch Yisroel page 63. | * Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach in Halichot Shlomo 20:25 say that the obligation for children to wash begins at the age of [[chinuch]] as for other mitzvot which is approximately 5 or 6. | ||
* Mishna Brura 4:10 says that one should be careful with young children, and doesn't clarify if this is only once they reach the age of chinuch (he only says they should be careful because they touch food)</ref> Some say parents should try to wash the hands of their children, regardless of their age.<ref>Shulchan Aruch haRav 4:2 says one should be careful starting after the brit milah to wash his son's hands. The Kaf Hachayim 4:23 and Ben Ish Chai (Toldot #10) say that even a newborn's hands should be washed by their parents. | |||
* The Chazon Ish (cited by Daat Noteh p. 141, Dirshu 4:23) is strict as long as the baby is old enough to touch something. See further [http://torah.org/advanced/weekly-halacha/5766/lechlecha.html Rabbi Neustadt at torah.org] | |||
* Shu"t Tzitz Eliezer 7:2:10 says there is no obligation before the age of chinuch, but to get the child into a good habit, it is advisable to wash his hands even before the age of chinuch. However, do not put pressure on the child, but do it pleasantly as there is no issue if they touch food. | |||
* Halichos Bas Yisroel perek 1 footnote 22 quotes in the name of Rav Moshe Feinstein that although it is not required, it is a good idea to wash the hands of your children even before the age of chinuch. | |||
* *Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky in Emet LeYacov 4:10 says that it begins when a child is old enough to say [[amen]] to a bracha or recite a pasuk in Torah. </ref> | |||
# Children who have reached the age of chinuch should be trained to wash their hands after going to the bathroom or touching parts of their body that are generally covered.<ref>Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen (Children in Halacha page 15). Chinuch Yisroel page 63. <br> | |||
Shu"t Tzitz Eliezer 7:2:4 says one can still learn with a child who touches their scalp or shoes.</ref> | |||
==Bringing Children to Shul== | ==Bringing Children to Shul== | ||
