B. The Areas of a Child’s Education
A child’s education according to Halacha is not confined to a single domain of Jewish observance. Rather, there are several distinct areas in which a parent is obligated to guide and develop their child. Each area addresses a different aspect of the child’s growth and together they form a complete and balanced Frum Jew as Hashem truly desires and wants.
- Mitzvah Fulfillment: A child must be educated in the fulfillment of mitzvahs, learning how to perform them and becoming accustomed to doing so, as will be explained in Halacha 3.
- Torah Study: A child must be taught Torah, cultivating knowledge of the Torah as well as a connection to learning, understanding, and intellectual growth, as will be explained in Halacha 4.
- Good Midos: Education must also focus on the development of good character traits, such as honesty, responsibility, sensitivity, and self‑control, as will be explained in Chapter 3 Halacha 1.
- Life success: A child must be prepared in areas that will enable him to earn an honest and sufficient livelihood, developing skills, discipline, and attitudes necessary for a productive and dignified job, as will be explained in Chapter 3 Halacha 2.
- Safety: A child must be educated in matters of personal safety, learning how to protect himself physically and emotionally and how to act responsibly in the world, as will be explained in Chapter 3 Halacha 5.
- Marriage: A child must be educated toward marriage, learning the values, attitudes, and responsibilities necessary to build a healthy and respectful home, as will be explained in Chapter 3 Halacha 6.
Each of these areas plays a vital role in the child’s development. They will be explored and elaborated upon throughout this and the coming chapters.
