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By Rabbi Yisroel Tevel, Beis Moshiach Magazine

One of the earliest directives of the Rebbe on chinuch is actually a teaching quoted in HaYom Yom from the Rebbe Rashab which provides what is perhaps the most invaluable tool in successful chinuch: preparedness and proactiveness.

“Just as putting on tefillin every day is a Scriptural commandment incumbent on every Jew,” declared the Rebbe Rashab at a Farbrengen, “so too, it is an absolute obligation for every Jew to dedicate half an hour every day to thinking about his children’s education.”

Be Prepared and Proactive

To be successful in any endeavor, we must plan ahead of time. “He who toiled on Erev Shabbos shall eat on Shabbos.” How much more so in chinuch, which is essentially preparing our children and students to be proud, capable, happy, and self-confident Jews who will stand on the first row to greet Moshiach.

The week before Chanuka is the time to prepare the best plan of action for a most meaningful and educational experience for our families. And in the following paragraphs we will highlight a few ideas that with proper planning can prove to move the educational experience of Chanuka several notches up.

A Festival of Education

Chanuka is high time for chinuch as indicated by its very name: Chanuka comes from the word chanukas hamizbeiach and chanukas Beis HaMikdash. The renewal or inauguration of the new mizbeach and restoring the holiness of the Beis HaMikdash.

Within each Jew lies a core of holiness, a hotspot that radiates kedusha to our entire life and through us, to the many others we come in contact with throughout our goings and comings. This is especially true for our children, where the idea of chinuch is always on the table. Chanuka is the best time to enhance all matters of the children’s chinuch.

Menorah in the Children’s Doorway

When Chanuka comes along, every Lubavitcher Chassid, whether a busy formal shliach or not, starts to think outreach and mivtzaim. Our attention is diverted to large public menorah lightings and parades.

Not undermining the importance of all the above (and involving the children in these activities is another amazing education tool!), there is a starting point that in many ways outweighs all this in more ways than one. There’s a domain that deserves special attention, and that unique domain is the entranceway of our child’s room!

The Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach spoke much to the children, even penning a special letter addressed to youngsters, asking them to make their own home a personal Mikdash Me’at – a miniature Beis HaMikdash through having —and using— their very own Chumash, siddur, and tzedaka pushka in their personal space.

What is not as famously known is that the Rebbe advises as well that a menorah and a menorah-lighting ceremony should be held at the entrance to the child’s room! This is in addition to explaining to the child the meaning of lighting the menorah in a language they best understand.

We cannot measure the impact this will have on the child, seeing the Chanuka menorah at the entrance to their own room! It makes Chanuka a thousand fold more personal and relevant to the child when the center of the celebration is his personal space where he reads, plays and sleeps.

Of course provisions to do this safely are required and you can use some of the daily half-hour of chinuch thinking to figure out how to get this done.

Chanuka Gelt Every Day

Another way our Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach advises enhancing chinuch on Chanuka is by giving Chanuka gelt. Giving Chanuka gelt is an old Jewish custom that was also practiced by our Chabad Rebbeim. The custom of Chanuka gelt is very much connected with chinuch.

When a child begins to learn the Torah and is still distant from it, the process entails showering him with many prizes. Similarly, on Chanuka, we celebrate our strengthened commitment to the Torah after the Greeks tried to make us forget Hashem’s Torah, and when you bring a child to learn Torah, you throw money at him.

Based on the call to action in the area of chinuch, to make the most tremendous efforts in this field, our Rebbe advises that we should not only give Chanuka gelt but be sure to give it every day of Chanuka!

To such a great extent, says the Rebbe, should we ensure to provide Chanuka gelt each day of Chanuka that even in regards to Shabbos, when we cannot handle money, we should be sure on Erev Shabbos or Sunday, to give extra Chanuka gelt to make up for the day of Shabbos. When giving them Chanuka gelt, explain to them that the Chanuka gelt is being given to them so that they increase their learning of the Torah even more.

Again, being prepared ahead of time with coins, bills, etc. for Chanuka gelt can make this educational tool ever more powerful.

To Summarize:

As we reflect on the lessons of Chanuka and our responsibilities in chinuch, it’s important to ask ourselves a few questions:

– How can I enhance my child’s understanding of their personal “Beis HaMikdash” during Chanuka?

– What impact do I think having a menorah at the entrance of my child’s room will have on their chinuch?

– How can I effectively use Chanuka gelt to encourage my child’s engagement with Torah learning?

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Living in a time when our most significant duty is to be mekabel pnei Moshiach Tzidkeinu, it is clear that our chinuch should reflect this vital message. What better way to welcome the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach is there than incorporating his timeless directives and values into our education thereby building homes in which he can feel wanted and welcome?

Elevate your parenting journey by joining our weekly chinuch conference designed specifically for fathers. Contact us at 347-500-3785 to engage in enlightening discussions and discover the essential values every Chassid should embrace!

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Beis Moshiach magazine can be obtained in stores around Crown Heights. To purchase a subscription, please go to: bmoshiach.org

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