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 [...]

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 Example Listen my son* to the instruction of your father and forsake not the teachings of your mother. (Proverbs 1:8). It is the responsibility of parents to teach their children ideals. One way to do so is by example. Some years ago I attended a number of little league baseball games. The parents and family of the young players were, naturally, very invested in how “their” little leaguer performed. At times, they wanted to be quite vocal at what they perceived was a bad "strike three, you’re out!” call made by the umpire. We were constrained by a large sign facing us in the bleachers, “Parents, your children are watching.” Indeed, they were. The way we interact in the presence of our children—with our spouse, [...]

The book of Genesis includes many stories about family life. This week Rabbi Woznica offers teachings about parents and children. “But Mom and Dad, I don’t feel like going to religious or ‘Hebrew’ school.” Parents sometimes ask their children if they would like to go to religious or “Hebrew” school. While they hope for a positive response, the question implies a choice—a choice that should be made by parents, not the child. We wouldn’t ask our children if they want to make up their bed, brush their teeth, do homework or attend school. Parents value such things and we wouldn’t offer a choice. As well-meaning as it may be to suggest to a child it is their choice to attend religious or “Hebrew” school, the question communicates to them that religious education is less important than general education or the other tasks mentioned above. Instead, let’s ask our children if their [...]