E. The Nature of the Obligation of Chinuch: Upon the Child or the Father[1]

A central question regarding the mitzvah of chinuch concerns the locus of its obligation: does it rest upon the child himself, or solely upon the father or other adult figure? Some poskim[2] maintain that the obligation of chinuch is entirely incumbent upon the father (or responsible adult), and not upon the child at all. According to this view, the child bears no personal obligation—even on a rabbinic level—to observe mitzvos, as he has not yet reached the age of obligation; rather, the responsibility lies exclusively with those charged with his education. Other Poskim[3], however, contend that there exists a rabbinic obligation intrinsic to the child himself, requiring him to fulfill mitzvos by virtue of chinuch, independent of the parental duty to educate.

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[1] See Encyclopedia Talmudit ibid p. 162

[2] Rashi Brachos 48a; Ramban Milchamos Brachos 20b and Chidushim on Kiddushin 31a; Teshuvas Maharam Bava Basra 4:200; Ritva Megillah 19b; Teshuvos 97; Meiri Brachos 20a and Megillah 19b; Ran Kiddushin 31a and Megillah 19b; Shut Harosh 4:21; Kesef  Mishneh Chametz Umatzah 6:10; See Rambam Brachos 5:7; Nechalos 11:10

[3] Kesef Mishneh ibid in opinion of Ran Megillah ibid and Tosafus Megillah ibid and Brachos 15a; 48a; Chikreiy Lev O.C. 70; Kelilas Shmuel 8:8