“This is the gezeirah of the Torah” is what the Targum informs us, regarding the first few words of this week’s parshah. This is usually understood as referring to the parah adumah, a mitzvah we don’t understand but fulfill regardless, simply because “the Torah says so.”
The Chasam Sofer points out that the concept of doing without understanding could equally be what is described in the continuation of the passuk, “asher tzivah Hashem leimor.” Which gezeirah is this? The Chasam Sofer explains that it is Hashem’s decree upon Torah leaders that they must educate and reprimand the Jewish People when needed.
In general, Torah leaders would much prefer to sit at home learning and davening without feeling responsible for correcting the wrongs of the world. The rest of the nation would also prefer such a situation in which they would be less accountable for their actions, as no one would be there to warn them of the consequences, making them culpable if they don’t change their ways. Hashem, however, decreed otherwise and obligates our leaders to accept responsibility for guiding the Jewish People in order to give everyone a chance to do teshuvah.
The responsibility to guide and rebuke properly is truly a heavy one, involving not only knowing what to say and how to say it, but also whether to speak up at all. Words that cannot or will not be accepted are better left unsaid.
Parents have a similar responsibility when it comes to their children. Regardless of how well their children may be educated in school, their primary chinuch is from the home and parents are obligated to guide them in the true Torah path.
Perhaps we can add that just as leaders must know when to refrain from speaking, parents have to know when it is better to not say something, regardless of what others might suggest. And just as Torah leaders need siyatta diShmaya to fulfill their tasks, so too must all parents daven for Hashem’s guidance to be able to successfully transmit Torah to the next generation.
