From the Teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Zt”l
One of Pharaoh's harshest decrees against the Jews was his order to throw every newborn boy into the Nile, as related in this week's Torah portion, Shemot. The Passover Hagada, read each year at the seder, adds the following insight: " 'And our burden'-this recalls the drowning of the male children, as it is said, 'Every son that is born you shall cast into the river, but every daughter you shall keep alive.' "
Our Sages explain that the word "burden" is equated with the raising and educating of children, implying the preeminent responsibility resting on Jewish parents. Our Sages understood that great effort must be expended in order to rear Jewish children properly. Parents and teachers must share involvement in this holy task, investing much time and energy to ensure a younger generation that will continue the Jewish way of life.
And yet, together with the recognition that raising Jewish children is hard work, the Torah promises that the rewards we reap will be well worth the effort. In fact, the more self-sacrifice a parent has on behalf of his children's Jewish education, the more he is assured that his children will be strong in their Judaism and untouched by Pharaoh's evil decree, whether thousands of years ago or today. It was precisely those Jewish children born under the threat of extinction in Egypt who were the first to recognize G-d at the splitting of the Red Sea, declaring, "This is my G-d and I will extol Him."
Why should raising Jewish children require so much effort? Because our children are the foundation upon which the entire Jewish nation rests. This secret has long been known to our enemies. It was for this very reason that in communist Russia the authorities tried especially hard to suppress Torah learning in schools attended by the youngest of Jewish children. "They have plenty of time to learn Torah when they grow up," the communists claimed, knowing full well that the Jewish child's formative years spent in a Jewish atmosphere posed the greatest threat to the atheistic regime.
In the Talmud, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Gamla is remembered because of his educational innovation - the institution of publicly funded Torah classes for children, commencing at the age of five or six, in all locations where Jews dwelled. Thousands of years later his name is still revered because of this accomplishment.
Jewish parents must therefore do all in their power - physically, spiritually and monetarily - to ensure that their children are enrolled in schools where they will be instilled with our timeless Jewish values. For the education of our children is indeed our "burden"; at times, personal sacrifice may be required. In the merit of this, we will raise a generation of Jews who will again be the first to recognize G-d, in the complete and Final Redemption with the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our day.
Reprinted from the Parashat Shemos - December 27, 2002 - 22 Tevet, 5763 edition of L’Chaim, a publication of the Lubavitch Youth Organization. Adapted from Likutei Sichoth of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
