A. Habituation – The meaning of the word Chinuch:[1]
The Hebrew word chinuch, commonly translated as education—a term often understood today as the simple transmission of knowledge and information—carries a meaning far richer and deeper than its modern usage suggests. At its root, the term does not merely refer to the transmission of information. Rather, it denotes a beginning—the initiation of a person into something new, as explained in Rashi.[2] The Rambam[3] explains slightly differently that the word implies limmud ve’hargel: learning combined with habituation. Chinuch, then, is not only about teaching a concept or skill, but about guiding a person until that new reality becomes familiar and internalized. It is the process of helping someone grow accustomed to new expectations, values, or behaviors, until they feel natural rather than foreign. In this sense, education is a dual act. We introduce the child to something new, and at the same time, we patiently help them become comfortable living within it. True chinuch is not achieved at the moment of instruction, but at the point where learning transforms into practice and habit. Practically speaking, this means that it is not enough to simply teach a child information—whether about Torah, mitzvot, good character traits, or other values. Chinuch requires far more than instruction alone. A parent or educator must guide the child consistently and remain involved until those teachings are fully internalized.
True education occurs when the child does not merely know what is right, but begins to live what he has been taught. The values must move from theory into practice, shaping the child’s behavior, choices, and way of life. Chinuch is complete only when the lessons taught become values the child embraces and acts upon naturally.
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[1] Encyclopedia Talmudit ibid p. 162
[2] See Rashi Bereishis 14:14; Devarim 20:5
[3] Rambam Pirush Hamishnayos Menachos 4:5
word chinuch, commonly translated today as education, carries a meaning far richer than the modern usage suggests. At its root, the term does not merely refer to the transmission of information. Rather, it denotes a beginning—the initiation of a person into something new, as explained in Rashi.[2] The Rambam[3] explains slightly differently that the word implies limmud ve’hargel: learning combined with habituation. Chinuch, then, is not only about teaching a concept or skill, but about guiding a person until that new reality becomes familiar and internalized. It is the process of helping someone grow accustomed to new expectations, values, or behaviors, until they feel natural rather than foreign. In this sense, education is a dual act. We introduce the child to something new, and at the same time, we patiently help them become comfortable living within it. True chinuch is not achieved at the moment of instruction, but at the point where learning transforms into practice and habit.
[1] Encyclopedia Talmudit ibid p. 162
[2] See Rashi Bereishis 14:14; Devarim 20:5
[3] Rambam Pirush Hamishnayos Menachos 4:5
