Parashat Ki Tisa

I love Judaism's focus on education.  One of our basic tenets is recited daily in the Sh'ma:   "V'shinantam l'vanecha."  Repeat to your children.

Repetition is a critical educational tool.  It is great when the repetition can take various forms to maintain children's interests.  How many times do we remind our children of our expectations, of our policies, that each family has its own culture, the adages our parents and grandparents used?

V'shinantam.  It serves as an excellent guideline.

Then of course, there is also (the looming) "v'hegadeta l'vincha," and you shall tell your child (the story of our slavery and the Exodus).  Another excellent teaching tool.  Tell your children stories.  Repeatedly, cyclically.  What a great tradition we have.  And what great results.  What each child remembers and what each child anticipates is remarkable!

Our students look forward with great anticipation to their chances to ask great questions, to hide or find the afikomen, to drinking all 4 cups, to staying up to midnight, to do whatever it is their family does.  Children are creatures of habit and they look forward to routines and comfort, to the same menu and the same seating arrangements.

It is a wonderful reminder that we can rely on the past to teach us and to remind us who we are; that we can concentrate on what is truly important and on what has sustained us through the ages. 

It does not mean that we cannot add new traditions and new experiences that we the parents can also learn new material to bring to the Seder or to the Chag, that we can use props to keep the fun and excitement.  Your children are among the privileged who come to the Seder with a wealth of knowledge.but you the parents still have the  obligation of "v'hegadeta l'vincha," and you shall tell your child.  Let them know your own experiences, share your stories or those of your family.  Talk about the history of that special Seder plate, or matzah cover - or create your own, together.

We hear so much about the importance of the family bond.  Inherent in these two mitzvot (in the Shma and the Haggadah) is  the interaction between parent and child.  Repeat it to your children and tell our children.  That is parent and child.  That is face to face.  That is quality time.  Value it.  It is the best investment you will ever make. 

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Pesach Prep!